The result was “Up For the Fight: How to Advocate for Yourself as You Battle Cancer from a Five-Time Survivor.” Published in September 2022, the book has been praised by cancer patients and clinicians, and endorsed by the Mayo Clinic, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. 

A cancer diagnosis will necessitate a series of scans, meetings with doctors, second opinions, biopsies, surgeries, treatment, recovery, and so much more, depending on your individual circumstances. A cancer patient’s life becomes a whirlwind of activity. The emotional and physical stress is high. There is, however, an additional stressor – money.

I began struggling with my ability to think clearly immediately after being diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time in 2020. The incredible emotional, physical, financial, and mental stress from a cancer diagnosis makes it hard for cancer patients to think clearly before treatment even starts.

Being an IRONMAN triathlete has undoubtedly helped me beat cancer. Five times so far. The lessons I learned from my athletic journey to become an IRONMAN have worked well for me in my cancer battles.

My cancer battle has helped me gain tremendous insight into the U.S healthcare system. While I am cognizant of the need for improvement in many areas within the U.S. healthcare system, there is a lot that is RIGHT with it.

Early in the journey, you need to know there will be issues, and by knowing, you can be ready to handle them when they come up.

What does it feel like to beat cancer? That is a question I ask myself and expect to be asked at some point. The answer is complex.

I have been fighting cancer for over 20 years and until the writing of this book, other than close friends and neighbors did not know I was battling cancer.