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Daniel Shockley 2014 - Attenuated FAP
Article
from MidWeek Honolulu www.midweek.com
Our
thanks go to MidWeek for giving their permission to
reproduce this article
Photo
by Kevin McCarthy
Daniel Shockley was diagnosed
with precolorectal cancer and underwent a successful
colorectal surgery July 13, 2012, at Tripler Army Medical
Center.
During that month, he reached out
to various cancer organizations and became involved
with Colon Cancer Alliance.
Daniel was diagnosed with a rare
gene mutation (considerably less than 1 percent of
the population suffers from this condition) that resulted
in 100 polyps along his colon, with one being extremely
large.
The diagnosis came after his transfer
to Tripler, and was confirmed by Susan Donlon, a certified
genetic counselor at the hospital.
“I had some consultations, and
the surgeon, based on the findings of a DNA test,
said that I would need surgery, and the surgery would
be the entire removal of the colon, rectum and anus,”
Shockley explains.
The condition will affect other parts
of his body, and he says it’s already attacking
his stomach. “I have pre-cancer in my stomach
because of the gene mutation,” he notes, “so
I have to go through surveillance every year.”
There is no cure for Shockley’s
condition, and the only way to treat it is to remove
the infected area.
He describes himself as an advocate
for the national Colon Cancer Alliance here on Oahu,
and admits it’s a great honor for him.
“They asked if I would represent
Hawaii on their behalf, requesting the governor to
proclaim March National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
in Hawaii,” says Shockley, who retired from the
Navy after 22 years of service.
After reaching out to Gov. Neil Abercrombie,
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa
and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Shockley received
proclamations from all of them in support of the campaign.
“This is my first attempt (at
doing something like this), and I’m four for
four,” he says.
Shockley works nights and weekends
at City Mill, and the company (along with sister company
Simply Organized) has partnered with him to provide
any employee who gets a colonoscopy a paid day off
after the procedure.
“I was honored to hear that,”
he says. “I don’t know of any company that
has ever done that before.”
CCA heard about the effort and lauded
Shockley April 6-13 during its National Volunteer
Week.
This is just one example of how Shockley
has chosen to use a former setback to do great things
in his community.
His goal is to reach out to others
in the hope that more people will participate in routine
screening and become educated about the condition.
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