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Cancer Changes You

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The following is from a LIVESTRONG Day event host. We invite you to RSVP for this event or one in your area by going to www.livestrong.org/livestrongday

My name is Jack Marshall Shimko and I am an avid waterman, outdoor enthusiast and owner of a small design firm in Los Angeles, California.

On April 23rd, 2009, five days after my 29th birthday, I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Since then I have undergone several surgeries, nine months of chemotherapy, endless blood transfusions and three months of radiation.

Cancer completely changed my outlook on life, forever altering my perspective and priorities. During my treatment I decided that I wanted to do more than survive: I wanted to take everything back that cancer had taken from me and do whatever I could to deal the disease a critical blow.

I distracted myself from the moments of overwhelming nausea and weakness by dreaming about a grueling open ocean paddle trip, like an ultra-marathon on the water. That dream became the thing that kept me going, fighting for the day when I would set out along the California coast to paddle for myself and for everyone battling cancer everywhere.

Sixteen weeks into my chemotherapy I entered the World Paddle Board Championship in San Francisco and finished dead last with a huge, dark blue, mildly hypothermic smile on my face. The race was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but it left me determined to attempt a much longer paddle – 150+ miles from Santa Barbara to Newport Beach — to raise money for the fight against cancer in September 2010.

Paddle2Live will very closely reflect my experience with cancer. Undergoing treatment is a lot like paddling in the open ocean: It’s a mental challenge as much as a physical one and progress can be hard to gauge. Will power, determination and the support of a great team got me through chemotherapy and radiation, and I’ll be relying on the very same things to get me through each of the 150-miles I will paddle.

In the end, Paddle2Live isn’t about me. It’s about contributing to the fight against cancer and the search for a cure, and it’s about inspiring other young people to beat the disease and live their dreams.

  • http://www.relivyourlife.net Greg Renstrom

    OMG Dude I am crying and you totally rock! Beyond Rock! What a story! Love your courage to live man totally impressive. You have made a decision to look cancer in the eye and say we are going 12 rounds and at the end I will be still standing!

    Sincerely,

    Greg

  • http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jennyfish Jenny Fish

    Fantastic story :) Yes, cancer does change us and it completely sets us “Right” and back on the course we were intended to take. The decision is for us to make, and you have certainly done so. Sending blessings your way :)

  • http://planetcancer ken frank

    hey Jack,I know how it feels to have your life turned upside down with cancer.I have fnhl was stage 4 now in remission,have been taking chemo treatment for 2 1/2 years.
    I have worked all thru my treatment,had to keep paying that health insurance.Own a small hvac business,just got divorced in June.
    Your story helps give me strength.Its tough to experience cancer. Stay Strong!!!

  • Rozita

    hi, Iam Iranian.
    My friends mom has concer and doctore told her you cant surgery beacuse your tumor is very big. she has gastric cancer. and now she doese chemotherapy but she has no spirit. I want to give her spirit and help her. please tell me what am i doing now???
    I buy Armestrang book and want to give it to her.

    • http://livestrong.org Brooke McMillan LAF Staff

      Rozita- please contact us via our website. We will see how we can help your family. Go here to send us a message

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