The 10 Selves Concept
By Lewis Colson
In 2009, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer and given at most two years to live. I will never forget the day the doctor delivered the news to me. As you might expect, I was devastated. But I decided to take a new approach to life, one that I call the 10 Selves Concept. I have been able to stay strong by changing the way I live. Every day, I create a check list for myself that helps me keep my life balanced between 10 crucial areas, such as emotional and mental health, physical health and engagement with social groups. As part of this process, I monitor my stress levels daily, exercise and meet with church groups and community clubs. Using these concepts to guide my daily actions has helped me lead a healthier, more balanced lifestyle and kept me moving forward despite my diagnosis. Contrary to my doctors’ predictions, it has now been five years since my diagnosis and I am still going strong.
These concepts have also come to guide the way I teach young men about the importance of cancer prevention. Though I knew there were signs I was unwell, I didn’t face the facts early enough and waited too long to seek out a diagnosis. I have now dedicated myself to educating young men so they don’t make the same mistake. Through Project: Better Man, an effort I’m leading through a BMe grant, I teach male college students the facts about prostate cancer and prevention. I train them to become mentors to children grades K-12 and deliver the message that prostate cancer is preventable. Through the 10 Selves Concept, I strive to guide these young men to lead healthy, balanced lives.
Today, on World Cancer Day, I want to encourage everyone to be proactive about their health, especially my fellow black men. Prostate cancer disproportionately affects us as a community. Of the 300,000 American men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, nearly twice as many of these men are black men than white men. Approximately 27,000 black men die each year from prostate cancer. More research is needed to understand and change this disparity.
I know from experience how maintaining balance can change the course of your life. I know from extensive research and learning that prostate cancer is preventable. And I have realized the urgent importance of focusing on cancer research. Together, we can raise our voices to support cancer research* and prevention, and help people work toward leading healthy, balanced lives.
*Project: Better Man, Inc. is a non-profit organization and will accept contributions/donations. Donations made to, Reach Project, Inc., Project: Better Man collaborative partner, are tax-deductible, and should be designated to Project: Better Man, Inc. Please mail checks and/or membership applications to PBMI 17531 Pennington Drive-Suite 2, Detroit, MI 48221-2616.
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