Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 5 Years cancer free today - Thank you

This is a day I have looked forward to for......well, 5 years. This board helped me reach my goals and this day.

5 years, three months ago, I made my first plans to summit Mt Whitney. Then a small detour in my plans.

5 years ago this morning, I was at Sharp, San Diego, having needles inserted under my thumb nail (yes, no numbing agents at all)and having radioactive isotopes injected in my body for sentinel node mapping to see if my cancer had spread. Minutes before surgery, I got the message that my pre surgery PET scan was clean.

Off to surgery. Nowadays they don't drug you before you enter the room for surgery, so you have time to talk to the anesthesiologist. I remember telling him that I didn't want to throw up after surgery and I didn't want to feel as if they used the tube in my throat to move me on the table. He listened and passed the test.

During surgery, the first digit of my left thumb was amputated to remove a melanoma tumor under my thumb nail. Two lymph nodes from my under arm were removed to check to see if my cancer had spread.

After surgery, I thought I would be "brave" and not take pain medication. I also told the hospital that I wanted to go home. I actually wanted to stay in the fancy hotel my wife was staying in while we were in San Diego. The decision to go home was good. The decision not to take pain meds was on the stupid side as the pain became unbearable and I felt like someone was constantly hitting my thumb with a hammer. Having to run around San Diego trying to find a pharmacy was a long, long painful event.

Tests on my sentinel node came back clean, very good news. But, I had swelling under my armpit. After 10 days, I went to the doctor and he punched two holes under my armpit and released what was causing the pressure. I won't go into detail, except to say it was disgusting. My doctor actually asked me to hold a towel under my arm pit while he got another towel! About three days later, my doctor called me on a Sunday, never a good sign. He said I had something called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, the very dangerous MRSA, an infection I may have picked up in the hospital. He said I may need to come back into the hospital for intravenous antibiotics. I took the new antibiotics, and had to clean the punctures every day. I used to stick the 5 inch Q-tips half way into my wounds and chase my daughter around the house. I thought it was hilarious, she didn't.

After my MRSA was handled, I went through 4 months of chemotherapy with the greatest melanoma doctor on earth, Dr Ed McClay.

Well, to make a long story a bit more concise, I am healthy and have summited Mount Whitney 2 times in the last two years. Once was with my buddy DJ, who came with me after a failed attempt one month earlier. The other summit was an overnight with Gary, Bulldog34. I met Gary, who lives in Atlanta on this site. Thank you guys.

And thank you to all my friends who believed I would not only be okay, but that I would summit Mt Whitney, even after I had doubts. My family went through a lot as cancer can become a "me" thing, with everything revolving around one person getting healthy. And as everyone who has hiked Mt Whitney knows, Mt Whitney can be a bit of an obsession. My family not only supported my obsession, but went with me on my first summit attempt, with my stepson summiting himself. They often hike with me now and put up with my incessant "Whitney talk."

And thanks to everyone from both boards who have written me, not only on my cancer, but about their cancer. Special thanks to Melville1955, DocRodneyDog and Climbstrong.

Joe, first congratulaions on five years! Second, it' been an honor and a privilege to (1) have you as a friend, and (2) to have summitted Whitney with you. When I experienced my first failed attempt on the mountain and posted about it on WPS, you were the first person to shoot me a PM and make me feel better about myself. I tried to do the same for you a month later when you crashed and burned on the switchbacks as well - we both fell victim to newbie mistakes, and it was good to have each other to lean on during that frustrating time.

Your successful summit a few weeks later helped inspire me to stay at it, and get to the top of this freakin' mountain. Sidebar: what Joe is omitting is that melanoma was just his first hurdle - after his recovery from that he had to have a hip replaced. As we got to know each other better over the following year (e-mail and phone), and made plans to summit this mountain together in 2010, you really kept me focused on succeeding. You know my rationale: if a nine-and-a-half-fingered, cancer-surviving, artificially-hipped, Valley Boy ar-teest dude my age can summit, then by-God so can I!

Strange way to start an overnight hike of Whitney - meeting for the first time at the Portal parking lot last July, thirty minutes before we headed up the trail. But it didn't seem that way - it felt as if I had known you most of my life, and it just seemed very natural to be climbing Whitney with you. Your focus, determination, and eternal good spirits went a long way in making that climb one of the best I've ever enjoyed in thousands of miles of hiking.

Thanks for a great trip, Joe, and also for becoming Brianne's newest "uncle". She is extremely stand-offish with strangers (she wouldn't hug her closest aunt till she was almost seven), but she took to you like a duck to water. When we were hiking in the mountains a couple of weekends ago, she stopped to take a break during a tough uphill and said, "I wish Joe was with us - I miss my Unkie Joe!" Along with everything else I respect you for, that probably takes the cake.

I hope to share many more summits with you in the future. Just don't give me that BS again about how you don't talk much on the trail - you're just about the most gregarious hiker I've ever met! Except maybe around o'dark-thirty at 12,000 feet . . .

I'd take a clean, cancer-free, bill of health over 10 Everest summits any day !

Congrats to you and may God continue having His hand on your shoulder !

Just Bob

Joe and Gary
You guys are Da-Bomb!
Brothers from another mother...'nuff said!

Stacy
ps Baldy awaits us

Congrats!!
I've got about a year and maybe another summit or two until my 5 year.
I've enjoyed following your journey through this MB.

Thank you for sharing your story,Quillansculpture, and congratulations on reaching your 5-year milestone! Good for you!

I know what you’re feeling – I’m approaching my 10-year milestone. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2000. I had a lumpectomy and radiation; fortunately I didn’t have to have chemo. I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years, and then was switched to Femara for 5 years. I’ve had good check-ups and my doctor feels that I’m good to go off medication.

It’s been really good reading your trip reports and posts - I think we should have a “survivor’s climb”!

Rosie

Joe,
Congratulations!!!!!
I can understand 1% of what you have gone through.
I still remember vividly the day I passed out at a doctor's office over 7 years ago when I heard that my wife got gastric cancer. She lost 2/3 of stomach and went through chemotherapy and radiation treatments with hellish side effects. She has been cancer free for last 7 years.
I found Mt. Baldy in 2004 when I was taking her out to cope with her depression by looking around nice places in Southern Cal. Ever since, I have been escaping out to Mt. Baldy as much I could. I met many nice people on the trail and hiking gave me the strength I need for rest of the week. As my wife getting better, the hiking became my main hobby. My wife and I couldn't survive last 7 years without hiking. Last few years, wife let me get out multi day hiking as she got better. Many people asked me why I hike same mountain so many time. It is simply close to home and I need the hiking more than anybody. Now I got hooked.

Keep on hiking to keep you healthy.
Let's hike together soon with DJ and your friends.

Shin
PS. I sent you a PM on 14th.

If someone puts this together, I'm in!

Congratulations, best of luck to you, and a big thanks. I had a bit of bad luck this week that seemed like big problems, but your story helped remind me that people face and overcome bigger challenges - I appreciate the opportunity to realize how lucky I am, and how strong you are.

Hi Joe,
Jack and I are so happy you have reached this milestone. Our third Whitney summit in 1999 was with my brother-in-law. When we reached the summit, we were in a low, frigid cloud. You could barely see the hut. But he stripped off his jacket and shirts to put on his bright red "I Survived" t-shirt so Jack could take his picture. He took that picture back to Stanford to show his cancer doctors! I remember praying the entire way up the mountain that day for God to allow the weather to hold off so that Richard could achieve his goal of a Whitney summit. Mentally, he needed that day as part of the way to reclaim his life. This mountain calls to us all in special ways. Having chatted with you last summer, I know that your positive spirit helped you to survive! You are an inspriation to us all in how to face life's adversities. Many blessings to you and I hope to meet up with you on the mountain again!
Blessings, Betsy

OK, I'm gonna get this going on one of my SoCal trips next year

.... and I love your quote by Hellen Keller!

Dear QS,

Congratulations on your being 5-years cancer free. What a gripping true story you posted. I could imagine it all in my mind as I read from needles stuck under your thumbnail (OUCH!) to chasing your daughter with Q-tips sticking out of your body. What an ordeal you've been through. I've never experienced it and I hope I never do but it's good to know that The Whitney Zone can help a person get through the tough times. Best wishes for continued health.

Congratulations!! I reach my fifth year on Thanksgiving Day (base of tongue squamous carcinoma). My own treatment was the roughest, harshest experience I ever had, but was nothing compared to yours.

WOW! It is amazing how many of us have similar stories!

I think doctors should include mountain climbing to the list of things to help people over-come serious illnesses. Standing on top of a mountain fills my body and soul with such peace and power - it is very healing.

And the goal itself keeps us going when things get bad (personal experience).

I think a group hike would be great but I have never liked the term "survivor" I think of it as "living life"

This is my favorite quote: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain!"

I agree! My doctors all readily concede the mountains are doing something for me, and I just think Grandma Whitney (Hulda Crook) had it right. I think it is especially telling that I got rid of a spot in my lungs without any toxic chemos while I was climbing Whitney et al.

Joe, congratulations on attaining that all-impt 5-yr mark, especially with such a deadly foe as melanoma! Knowing how to keep going after hitting the wall is impt in fighting cancer.

Count me in on any survivors' hikes; if I can make it up there. My DH is on his 12th yr cancer-free. I'm a different kind of survivor -- I'm on my 8th yr of living with cancer (or making it live with me, actually). It has spread everywhere it can at least once or twice, and I just keep beating it back.

Most recently, it has invaded my cerebrospinal fluid; but I've already outlived all the prognoses and I have a good plan to beat it. Which, of course, will include mountain climbing!

You've got an amazing attitude, hikingforhope!

I have a brother-in-law in your same situation – his cancer has spread all over his body. He’s on a routine of chemotherapy (which will continue indefinitely) but I think I’d opt for the “therapy” that you have chosen; it definitely sounds like it’s working for you! You certainly have the toughest situation (living with cancer, rather than “having had cancer but now cancer-free”), but fortunately you do have choices. Bottom line, though - you just keep going….. or you don’t.

I am curious – I think I read that you and “Hetchy” (from HST) were going to make an epic hike last summer to raise awareness for cancer? Am I right about that? How did it go?

I’m looking forward to meeting you on our “living life hike” next year (thanks, Cindy, I like that name idea)

Rosie

Hikingforhope: I started reading some of your blog and cannot tell you how powerful your story is. Everyone needs to read it. I cannot imagine the strength it takes to have such a positive attitude and to continue with the things in life that you love so much, and to do it with such a great sense of humor. Thank you so much for sharing.

I wasn't sure if I would even put up my 5 year anniversary on this site, but the response from so many others and the PM's I have received from others with cancer, and/or friends and family with cancer have all touched me.

With that said, please take the time to read hikingforhope's blog. It will change the way you see things.

Thank you for the "point in the right direction", quillansculpture, I had not noticed the link before. And you're right - it's an incredible story.

Hikingforhope, I had no idea what you had gone thru.... what you are still going thru. My very best wishes to you in your recovery and eventual trip to Seattle for the treatment there. You have an amazing attitude.

Rosie

P.S. When you get up to Seattle and if you have any free time for visits, send me a PM.... I live south of Olympia, and would love to make a trip to Seattle.

hfh -
In reading your blog, I found a line that sums it ALL up:

"I sure don't feel well enough to go climbing mountains, but I'm sure if i go climb mountains, I'll start feeling well."

I had quite a WOW moment when I read this...Thank you for being such a strong willed inspirational woman!

Fight on Sister!

Stacy

I think that was hike4hope, who hikes in memory of her young-adult son, if my memory serves me well here.

Tell your brother-in-law to never give up, there is always hope. When I was first diagnosed in 2003, I had one of the worse subtypes of cancer and had only the old-fashioned "treatments" of some of the worst chemotherapies--- yet I've lived long enough that I can see exactly how we're going to achieve the cure for it now.

Climbing mountains and swimming in the ocean are two of the best and fastest ways to rebuild your body after such toxic treatment (and standing on one leg with your eyes closed).

Thank you for all your kind words, and I do indeed look forward to meeting you all -- in Seattle, here in the SoCal mtns, at the living life hike, anytime I can make it to my beloved Sierras!

I'm in the process of updating the blog now with the report on what it's like to be one of the only people in the world to ever receive a monoclonal antibody injected directly into the brain ventricle cerebrospinal fluid. Trippy stuff. But I'm still going!

hfh