When was the last time you felt truly free to let everything go? The stress of your daily life, or the emotional and physical impact of a cancer diagnosis. All the things that we often don’t discuss, drifting away from your mind, as if they didn’t exist for a moment. For John, a prostate cancer patient here at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, that very feeling is the reason he dances.
John sits before us in his kitchen, resting his legs as he has just finished a dance class at his favorite dance school. Throughout his life, dance has been a recurring outlet for John, beginning when he was about 5 years old, and resparking now in his 80s. Through all of life’s emotions, the painful and joyful memories, and the challenging days that come with cancer, John keeps dancing through it all. It’s become something that gets him through the everyday, filling it with passion and fueling his heart.
Every week, John spends hours listening to music, choreographing sequences, and practicing step by step, often with his dance partner, Kate. Kate and his instructor, Christina, serve as his companions on the dance floor and creative minds to bounce ideas off during his choreography. Recently, John has been working on choreographing a piece inspired by Isadora Duncan’s The Art of the Dance. “Dancing puts me in another world,” he says as he begins playing “What I Did for Love” by Priscilla Lopez. He explains how he envisions the song as a love story between him and his late wife. As the song builds, John’s eyes close and his arms rise, transporting him to another reality, far from any stress. All his worries about upcoming scans, appointments, and life’s ups and downs pour into his movements every time he dances. The song eventually slows and fades, bringing John back into his kitchen, surrounded by the life he has built.
The walls of his home are covered with family photos of him and his children and paintings by his granddaughters, showcasing his most treasured memories. John’s family has been by his side through it all, calling him regularly, visiting to check in on his progress, and occasionally accompanying him to his appointments. John’s daughters are particularly involved in their father’s care, looking out for John as much as they can. He shows us a picture of his children, pointing out, “Kim is like my doctor, and Lisa is excellent with knowing what's happening. I don’t know what I would do without them.” Meanwhile, his son, Steve, always finds a way to make John laugh, whether that be through routine phone calls or virtual games of Rummikub. When all else is unknown, John’s children and grandchildren are a constant source of comfort and support he can always rely on. With his family’s support, John has learned to keep moving, even when the steps are unclear.
John’s fight against prostate cancer has been a dance of its own, beginning with a diagnosis, then leading him into remission, before receiving a new diagnosis in recent years. Throughout his journey, John has seen various doctors, none of whom gave him the reassurance and confidence he had been searching for. It wasn’t until John found himself at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists that he finally felt like he could put complete trust in his care team. “There’s nobody better than him,” he says about his oncologist, Dr. Jahan Aghalar. “He is the best as far as cancer goes, and his whole crew is excellent.” Undergoing cancer treatment is never enjoyable, but with the help of New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, John not only manages his regimen, but lives an entire life apart from it. From keeping up with hobbies like gardening, acting, and of course, dancing, to maintaining his home and family life, cancer no longer has the power to hold John back.
Most of us have something or someone we love. Maybe you like gardening, or spending time with your kids, or maybe you’re like John and love creating art. Whatever it is or whoever that person is for you, filling that cup is key, especially when you’re undergoing something like cancer. We often feel as though our burdens are permanent weights we must carry every day, but finding things we love shows us that there’s room to share. Investing in our interests, talking about our day, or letting someone else take care of us for a moment can help us release some of that strain. At New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, our team is here to do exactly that. Regardless of your diagnosis, age, or any other circumstance, we’re here to guide you through this chapter of your life. So if you’re still searching for that hobby or friend to help you carry the load, start with us. Our expertise extends far beyond medicine because what we really care about…is our patients.
