Survivor Spotlight: Todd Maples
June is National Cancer Survivors Month, and we’re sharing stories and insights from survivors in our CARES community. Todd Maples supports CARES by using his passion for cycling to raise funds for our Erase the Trace biking event, and introducing new people to our Cars for CARES annual benefit.
Thank you, Todd, for sharing your story to inspire hope and raise awareness about the importance of continued investment in cancer research.
Todd and his wife Julie with their children
What were your biggest challenges during your treatment?
I was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer at the age of 45, with three kids under the age of 10-years-old. The physical challenges are the most obvious answer, with fatigue and neuropathy from radiation and chemotherapy. But cancer is tough on a family as well. I was fortunate to have a supportive wife and a strong network of friends, family, church community, and work colleagues.
Did any treatments or trials in your care come from cancer research?
My treatment protocol was straightforward with existing approved medications referenced in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines:
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy/radiation for six weeks
Surgery
Adjuvant chemotherapy every three weeks for fifteen weeks
Reversal surgery
From my first radiation treatment to my final surgery was a 10-month process.
Todd (left) with Scott Hamilton and Francis Fessler at our Erase the Trace bike ride in 2023
Has surviving cancer changed your outlook on life?
Having lost a parent at a young age and having kids in my mid-thirties, I fully appreciated the value of time and being present. During your cancer journey, people will surprise you – both good and bad. Some will unexpectedly surprise you with their generosity of time and support. At the same time, some of whom you considered to be close friends may not step up in the way you expected. I heard Lance Armstrong once say that during tough times, “some people will lean in, some will lean out.” That is very accurate.
A good friend of mine passed along the following quote during my treatment: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” -Muhammed Ali
What message would you share with someone diagnosed with cancer?
Do not feel as though you are inconveniencing friends or family by asking for help and support. They may not know the best way to approach the challenging topic of cancer, but true friends will want to walk alongside you on your journey.
You can never fully appreciate the daily struggles of others until you have had a life experience such as cancer. The early anxiety of being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming, but research and treatment options are advancing rapidly, thanks to organizations like the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation.
Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”