I’m alive; my best friend isn’t; That’s why we can’t wait to get screened
You never truly know what you had until you have lost it, and this realization came to me with my best friend, Ryan.
Ryan and I met through unfortunate circumstances – our shared experience fighting colorectal cancer. We bonded through our roles supporting Fight Colorectal Cancer, an organization dedicated to being relentless in the fight to end the disease. Like so many friendships formed in the cancer community, ours was built through shared fear, hope and countless conversations that only another survivor can truly understand. But cancer didn’t define our friendship.
Cancer may have introduced us, but it was Ryan’s compassion, humor and unwavering determination that made him one of my closest friends.
Although we lived 1,200 miles apart, we became as close as two friends could be. We shared everything through texts, phone calls, and video chats, and whenever we had the chance to be together in person, we were practically inseparable. In the 835 days I knew Ryan, we shared great conversations, lots of laughs, uncountable hugs, and more than a few bourbon Old Fashioneds.
Ryan was diagnosed with stage 3C rectal cancer at just 47 years old. By the time doctors discovered the tumor, the cancer had already spread to nearby lymph nodes. Even then, Ryan chose to meet his diagnosis not with fear, but with purpose. He became a passionate advocate, determined to ensure that other families would not have to endure what his family was facing.
That mission continued until the very end of his life.
Ryan passed away in December 2024 after a courageous battle with CRC, leaving behind his wife, Emily, children, grandson, countless friends and an advocacy community that continues to feel the weight of his absence. His voice, however, lives on. Many people came to know Ryan through his Fight Colorectal Cancer and Man Up to Cancer advocacy efforts, but I know him as the best friend that I shared conversations, laughs and memories that I will cherish forever.
That is why when I saw Ryan’s name included in a special tribute video from Guardant Health, it stopped me in my tracks. The video memorializes those who have lost their lives to CRC and encourages people to get screened, and Ryan’s story embodies that message. After his diagnosis, he devoted himself to raising awareness and encouraging others to prioritize screening, hoping they could avoid the journey he endured. The best way I know to honor my friend is to continue that mission so more people get screened early, and fewer families have to experience this kind of loss.
Here in Tennessee, CRC remains the second leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 3,560 Tennesseans expected to be diagnosed and 1,610 expected to die from the disease this year alone.
To make matters worse, Tennessee surpasses the national average for eligible adults that remain unscreened, with approximately 43% of Tennesseans between the ages of 45 and 75 having never completed one or more recommended CRC screening. These statistics are particularly concerning when CRC is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early, with five-year survival rates as high as 91 percent.
Ryan’s story shows why early detection is so important. He was diagnosed at just 47 years old, a heartbreaking reminder that this is no longer just an “older person’s disease.” Getting screened can be the difference between life and death, and, thankfully, there are now several innovative options available.
Options like the Shield blood test for CRC, the first blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC in average-risk adults 45 and over and the only one recommended by both the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Comprehensive Network screening guidelines, are making it easy to screen, so more people can take that first step. There’s no special prep, no procedure to schedule, it’s just a blood draw that can be done at a doctor’s visit.
Through my roles at Man Up to Cancer and Fight Colorectal Cancer, I have the privilege of meeting patients and families whose stories inspire me every day. I also witness the heartbreak that comes when this disease is discovered too late. So please, do not wait to get screened. Talk to your doctor about your options and don’t wait.
Ryan’s story does not end with his passing, it lives on every time someone hears it, gets screened, and gives someone a chance at a future he fought so hard to preserve for others.
Michael Holtz is chairman of the board for Man Up to Cancer and a national ambassador for Fight Colorectal Cancer.