Podcast: Living with Cancer

My name is Clark. I am a 57-year-old living with stage 4 prostrate cancer and stage 2 sarcoma. I had been through surgery, several bouts of radiation, hormone treatment and 21 weeks of chemotherapy.


 Amidst all of this, I climbed the cliffs of Ontario, Nevada, New Hampshire, and New York State. I learned how to use the steel mace — an unconventional training tool that once was a medieval weapon used by Persian and Indian warriors. At the height of my chemo, I was climbing 300-foot ice walls and doing hot yoga.

Current cancer stats indicate I have three years to live. But my New York doctors felt that I lived so outside the bell curve that I would likely defy statistics. My Toronto doctors said that my story could inspire cancer patients fearing the loss of their previous lifestyle, the debilitating effects of chemo, and the uncertainties of the future.

What sustained me were precious moments with my wife, my family (including a feisty Chihuahua-terrier, Denver), climbing buddies, personal trainers, friends and colleagues in the United Nations, where I’ve worked for 32 years, the last seven as a leadership coach.


I’ve captured my journey through chemotherapy on my blog,  an online personal tapestry of images, poetry and essays about embracing growth, accepting decline and celebrating living.

Now, I’d like to share my story as the spark to build a community for those living with cancer and for those who care for them. It is a space for others to share their hopes, fears, joys and dreams. A friend suggested a bowl as a metaphor, a vessel whose highest purpose was to be empty so that others might fill it to the brim with the unique spices and flavors that their stories bring. Please accompany me in this adventure of filling life’s bowl with stories about living with cancer and caregiving those who have it.



Contributions are needed to amplify the stories and build community through a professional quality podcast about people living with cancer and their care-givers. I want to produce 5 episodes that will:

-       Support people living cancer in their own journey by offering a space to listen, to learn from and share their stories;

-       Support their caregivers/loved ones in accompanying the people they support by providing with with opportunities to voice their own needs and frustrations


Here’s a 6-minute sample of what your financial support for the #celebrating-adversity-podcast could do.

CELEBRATING ADVERSITY PODCAST TRAILER 
 
Here’s a link to a blog where I recently posted an article about Cancer, Caregiving and Covid19. Check it out.

CELEBRATING ADVERSITY BLOG



I feel deeply that the emotional support I received through my treatments was a big part of what has kept me so positive and active. I want others to have that opportunity. I invite you to contribute financially if you can, or:

·       Share a story of your own experience with cancer or caregiving. Tell me about it at [email redacted]g

·       Talk about the blog with friends,

In the US, 1.8 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed this year; 606,520 Americans are expected to die.  In Canada, 225,800 will be diagnosed; 83,300 Canadians are expected to die. In this time of COVID19, those living with cancer are among the most vulnerable. They have also become even more isolated and invisible than usual, as have many of their caregivers. Lets all work together to capture their inspiring stories on how they are overcoming, accepting and celebrating adversity.