ELK GROVE – Climbing Mount Everest is a feat only a few will ever accomplish however think about attempting to do it after battling most cancers. An Elk Grove man is taking one massive challenger after one other.
“It is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment. I felt drained however mentally stronger,” Elk Grove resident Ruben Munoz stated.
However to know simply how particular this second was, you must know what Munoz went by means of to get right here.
“I used to be very sick,” he stated. “I used to be very sick, I misplaced my hair, I misplaced a whole lot of weight and I’ve footage earlier than and after the journey. I used to be a unique individual.”
The analysis was stage 4 bladder most cancers, found after he seen blood in his urine.
Dr. Mamta Parikh is an oncologist at UC Davis Well being. She knew Munoz was a hiker and one with big ambitions. Oh, by the best way, he is additionally 68 years previous.
“I did assume he was severe. I did not understand how real looking it was going to be,” Parikh stated when requested if she thought Munoz was severe about climbing Everest.
They put Munoz on an immune remedy drug combo with an experimental agent when he was first recognized primarily based on a scientific trial UC Davis was part of.
“We now use immune remedy as a spine of remedy and immune remedy works by activating the immune system to battle the most cancers,” Parikh stated. “So the unwanted effects are completely different and milder in some methods from chemotherapy.”
He had some unwanted effects from the primary immunotherapy mixture. So he needed to cease. However a second combo introduced his bladder most cancers underneath management.
“Personally, the best way I take it, for something in my life, particularly for this, I do not take into consideration most cancers,” Munoz stated.
He was desirous about Everest, possibly not the height, however he knew he may at the least get to the basecamp. It took days, however he made it.
“I actually thank them for going out of their option to get me as prepared as I may,” Munoz stated.
“It is why we go into this sort of work. To have the ability to assist sufferers fulfill their objectives and desires,” Parikh stated.
Its a message Munoz desires to share with others battling most cancers: Do not quit.
“You will have altering occasions in your life that all of us must dwell with,” Munoz stated. “Do not cease believing, do not cease doing what you do as a result of one of the best drugs is to maintain doing what you are doing.”
Munoz is not slowing down. Along with climbing, the retired Cal ISO employee additionally performs and coaches soccer.
