I'm a Cancer Survivor.

I am one of the 18 million Americans who are cancer survivors. I’m sharing my story of survivorship today because National Cancer Survivors Day is on June 4.

When I first received my diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer at the age of 40, I assumed that I had only a few months left to live. As a father of two children ages 4 and 6, missed birthdays, graduations and weddings flashed through my mind. While my oncologist assured me that recent medical advances meant the prognosis wasn’t quite so dire, he also admitted that the objective of my treatment would be to “kick the can down the road,” essentially trying to keep me alive long enough for better treatments to be developed.

And so began my cancer journey. Four years later, I continue to beat the odds (the four-year survival rate is <1%) as my condition remains stable. I’ve learned so much about cancer, about life and about myself. One thing I’ve learned is that stories of survivorship inspire hope. Until now, I have not publicly shared my story at 毕马威 , but I felt that now was the time to do so.

My cancer is stage 4B which means it has spread into my bloodstream and far enough across my body that I’ll never be in remission. I will live with cancer the rest of my life. I hope some of my learnings will help others in similar situations. Here are some lessons I’d like to share:?

• Listen to your body: As one who’s not much for doctors, I ignored the signals my body was giving me and put myself in additional danger. I had been experiencing pain and swelling in my legs, which I later learned were blood clots, a common effect of cancer. In fact, I was hastily admitted to the hospital upon my diagnosis, not because of the cancer but because of a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening blood clot in my lung.
• Don’t go at it alone: Open up to people as much as possible about what you’re going through, even if it’s uncomfortable. I started a blog , at first to simply save myself the trouble of individually updating each of my friends and family on my treatment and condition, but I was blown away by the unexpected outpouring of love and support I received. It gave me strength when I needed it most and helped those around me understand how they could best support me through my journey.
• Negative emotions are ok: Fear, self-pity, anger – these are all natural feelings. Suppressed emotions can compound on themselves and cause additional damage even at the subconscious level. I found my head in some very dark places along the way. However, being in tune with my needs allowed me to seek professional help and dig my way out from my lowest point.?
• Keep hope alive: No matter how dire the situation seems, hold onto hope. After 12 brutal rounds of chemo over six months my body and mind were in rough condition. My oncologist recommended I start a new targeted therapy medication that had just been approved by the FDA. A few months later, I was feeling well enough to return to full-time work and accepted an offer to join KPMG. Three and a half years later, I’m still on this medication, which I take twice daily. It’s incredible that a treatment that didn’t even exist when I was first diagnosed now allows me to enjoy a completely normal and fulfilling life with no major side effects. I count my blessings every day and look forward to sharing life’s joys and milestones with my wife, my children and all my loved ones for many years to come!

KPMG is proud to support the American Cancer Society (ACS) and its mission to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research and patient support and ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Our national KPMG and ACS network consists of more than 50 professionals that serve ACS chapters across 23 offices. It is led by Robb Soles , Partner West Region tech assurance leader and board chair for the ACS Greater Illinois Chapter. As an ACS Partner Against Cancer , KPMG is committed to supporting cancer research, education, advocacy and services through its corporate contributions and employee giving.

I encourage you to visit the ACS website to learn more about volunteer opportunities, resources and other lifesaving information to support cancer patients and caregivers. National Cancer Survivors Day has given me the opportunity to reflect on my journey. Through sharing my story, I wish to raise awareness, inspire others and promote hope.

Thank you for reading and being part of my survivorship story.?