I am not sure this blog will have a central theme or continuity. It perhaps falls under the category of rambling. It contains good news and other news.

I have written and rewritten this several times because the situation has changed. Let’s start with the good news. I was diagnosed with a myxofibrosarcoma in May 2007. After 264 hours of chemotherapy, 25 radiation sessions, 10 cancer surgeries and 10 years of treatment, I expect to be dismissed in December 2017. Cut loose!! Cancer free!! I share this news not in a sense of arrogance, but in a sense of urging everyone to keep fighting. Have hope!!

Support TeamThe other news is not as joyful and takes away some of the glitter of my news. Two very good friends have had a reoccurrence of their cancers. One is doing rather well and one has succumbed to cancer. It has taken her life.

I have read that we should not refer to our cancer battles as a war. With that I disagree. War is a damn battle every day, and battles become a war. We want to win wars, and that is possible with the wonderful care we receive at the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network with some of the most outstanding staff available anywhere.

Unfortunately, we do not win all our battles, but that does not diminish our desire to fight. A key here is HOPE. We never give up hope. We continue the battle within each of our personal wars.

Be well.

— Joe Vitale

RIP-MP. And keep up the fight-SJK

Share Your Thoughts

Joe has never given up during his personal cancer battle. A key for him is to have hope. What drives you to keep fighting? Share your comments below.

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About the Author

Joe Vitale was born on a mini-farm in Waukesha County to Italian immigrant parents in 1938, and spent most of his life in and around Waukesha. He attended Catholic schools in the city, graduating from Catholic Memorial High School, and went to Carroll College in his undergraduate years. He had a career in education that spanned nearly four decades, starting out as a teacher and, after postgraduate work, becoming an administrator in the School District of Waukesha. He was a curriculum director in environmental education and later a principal. He was diagnosed in 2007 with myxofibrosarcoma. "My good fortune of being cancer free has helped me realize how fragile we are," Joe says. "The past five years I have been actively involved with the Sarcoma Support group, now the Cancer Support Group and the Sarcoma Event Day ... I have been extremely fortunate with my outcome and hence the time to pay back."

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Cancer

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