Stuart Peterson of rural Chaseburg got off the pity train years ago after his first bout with cancer, and he wasn’t about to hop back on-board just because a different form of cancer decided to rear its ugly head and test his will to survive yet another round with the disease.

At the age of 66, Peterson is in excellent physical health. He retired from Trane Company in La Crosse in 2002; he’s attended school everyday for over 30 years, ever since his wife Bonnie and him bought the old Brown Country School and remodeled it for living space; he walks up to five miles a day; he watches his diet and tries hard not to overeat, which isn’t a problem during the week when he’s home alone and admits he hates to cook; but most of all Peterson has a real will to live.

“I feel great and I plan on keeping it that way,” Peterson said.

Peterson’s optimistic attitude not only plays a big role in his own survival, but it's one of the reasons he was selected as the spokesman for the annual Chaseburg American Cancer Society Walk/Run being held on Oct. 11, 2008.

Peterson was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 1989. A smoker his entire life he’d stopped cold turkey five years earlier, but found himself battling lung cancer despite kicking the habit. Peterson had been bothered by a nagging year-around cough, which seemed to get worse whenever he had active military Army reserve training. Having been diagnosed with asthma as a kid, he attributed the problem to the chronic condition until a check-up revealed a mass on his lower left lung.

By May of 1989, Peterson was a little lighter on the left side after surgeons removed his lung to prevent the disease from spreading, leaving the cavity filled with fluid to protect his heart. Feeling confident they caught the disease early, and that the form of cancer Peterson had was less aggressive than most he was spared chemotherapy and underwent radiation treatments instead.

As days, months and years passed Peterson forgot about his cancer and was pleased when he received a clean bill of health. He was especially grateful to have forgotten the pain associated with having a lung removed after he landed in the hospital for triple bypass open heart surgery in 1995 and found himself in yet another recovery stage.

“I’m glad I couldn’t remember the pain. If I had it might have taken me longer to heal and I know I would have been afraid to go under the knife again,” Peterson said.

Thankful his heart blockage was discovered before he had a heart attack Peterson knew he had to keep an even closer eye on his diet and exercise more. Peterson learned to take smaller portions and indulge less in the things he liked, including Fritos, which he loved to eat by the bagful, but knew were anything but heart healthy.

“I take a smaller plate and eat less. I was raised to clean my plate, but I’ve learned that’s easier to do with less food on it and I feel better when I leave the table and I’m not stuffed,” Peterson said.

Having suffered from and survived cancer and open heart surgery, Peterson, learned the importance of having regular check-ups. Like most men over 50 part of his annual exam included monitoring the PSA, an indicator of prostate trouble. In 2007, Peterson’s PSA registered five, a strong indication of the presence of cancer, which was confirmed through a biopsy.

Being told he had been stricken for the second time with cancer wasn’t easy for Peterson to accept, but his strong family support system and faith in God helped him realize that although he had cancer, he wasn’t dead.

“As long as I’m alive, there’s hope,” Peterson said.

Once again Peterson had a choice of how to handle the cancer that was manifesting in his body. He could’ve had external surgery and been laid up for months, but instead he opted to think outside the box and traveled to the Chicago Prostate Cancer Center for an internal treatment of prostate cancer. Peterson had seeds of radiation placed inside his prostate which battle the disease from the inside out. With similar success rates, Peterson was elated to learn that since the seeds were implanted in October 2007 that his PSA counts are continuing to decline.

Peterson doesn’t know what the future holds and personally he doesn’t want to. He’s just happy when today feels better than yesterday. Instead he prefers to take life one day at a time and enjoy the time he has to spend with his wife, Bonnie, his children Bruce (Lynn) and Ryan (Trisha) and his six grandchildren, Paige, Amanda, Cassidy, Cole, Evan and Caleb. He loves hunting, trap shooting and even going to the movies, as long as he doesn’t have to sit too long or doesn’t get distracted.

As spokesman for the cancer walk on Oct. 11, Peterson isn’t sure what he’ll say during opening ceremonies, but he’s tickled pink to be able to lead the way.

“If today’s a little better than yesterday, then you know you’re on the right road. You have to keep a sense of humor and stay off the pity train. Locking yourself up in a dark room won’t make the cancer go away and it won’t help you either. Trust your doctors, have faith in yourself and live life to the best of your ability. There are no guarantees in life, but there is hope,” Peterson said.

The 3rd annual Chaseburg American Cancer Society Run/Walk will be held on Sat., Oct. 11 at Chaseburg Village Park. The event is a 5K noncompetitive walk to raise awareness and dollars to fight cancer. Donations are dedicated to life-saving American Cancer Society research, education, patient support, and advocacy programs to defeat the disease. Teams can be formed of co-workers, family, friends, school groups, sports teams and others.

Agenda

11 a.m. - Registration

12 p.m. - Euchre 1/2 Tournament begins

3 p.m. - Opening ceremony, survivor's lap followed by open walk

4 p.m. - Entertainment

6 p.m. - Luminaria ceremony

6:30 p.m. - Closing ceremony

If any questions, please contact me or Linda DeGarmo at 608-483-452-3367, Eric Ostrem at 608-452-3135 or Lori Francis 608-783-5001, ext 103. Anyone unable to attend the day of the walk may still donate. Donations may be mailed to the American Cancer Society office at 1285 Rudy St #103, Onalaska, WI 54650.