Doctor volunteers for Cancer Society 50 years

Fifty years is just a marker along the way.

At least, that's how Dr. Joseph Isley of south Fort Myers sees it.

He has volunteered with the American Cancer Society since 1958.

During the past half century, Isley has worked to help educate people about prevention and detection of cancer.

"Cancer is an ongoing thing and you can't be in medicine without having an interest in cancer," said Isley, 84, who completed his residency at Duke University and moved to Fort Myers in 1958. "We try to help people out if they have it or to keep them from getting it."

That's why Isley has dedicated his life to the society that has named him an Honorary Life member.

"Dr. Isley has been a stellar volunteer for the American Cancer Society. He is always available even at a moment's notice," said Sherri Nowlin, the area executive director of the American Cancer Society. "It's very rare that someone would give 50 years of their life to an organization."

But giving of his time to the organization for Isley means more than just showing up.

"I look back on it and I wouldn't have done it any different. And I don't think 50 years is something you say, 'Well I've done 50 years and I'm going to stop' or anything like that," Isley said.

Although he is now semi-retired, Isley has served as president of both the Lee Unit and State Division, Chairman of the Breast Cancer Task Force and Colon-Rectal Cancer Task Force and received the Connie Mack Humanitarian of the Year Award for the Lee County Unit.

"He is incredibly passionate and driven, his heart is in it and he definitely cares about the patients and finding a cure for the disease," said Nowlin, adding that Isley has been nominated for a distinguished service award. He will also be recognized at this year's ACS dinner in September.

Awards, though, aren't that important to Isley. He does it for his patients.

"I never liked to tell patients that I saw something suspicious or bad, but it was important that I told them they needed to see their physician as soon as they could," said Isley, who works part-time in the Radiology Department of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Fort Myers. "My favorite involvement is just being able to communicate with people about ACS."

Delivering the ACS message is what Isley said will keep him going for another 50 years if he could.

"Everyone would like to see a cure for cancer, but even better than that would be the prevention of cancer," he said. "Fifty years is just one of the markers along the way."