Cancer survivor finds new kind of courage
By Christine Cleary
Jeff Keith (second from left) takes a break during the 2004 Swim Across America events in Boston with David and Eileen Perini and (far right) event cofounder Hugh Curran.
Although cancer survivor Jeff Keith had run coastto- coast through the varied terrains and climates of the United States in 1985, winning the American Cancer Society's Courage Award" bestowed by President Reagan, there was still one place he feared to tread: Dana-Farber's David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic for childhood cancer survivors.
After losing his leg to bone cancer when he was 12, Keith went on to become a vigorous champion for cancer care and survivorship through many athletic fundraising venues, including founding the Swim Across America program that supports the Perini Clinic through several Boston events. But it took him 30 years to take advantage of the care he was raising dollars for.
I had beat cancer and put it out of my mind," says Keith, a Boston College graduate from Fairfield, Conn. I never wanted to go back to the Jimmy Fund Clinic or Children's Hospital [Boston] after I was a patient there, and my mom slept next to my bed."
His thoughts began to shift recently, however, after he read an article about cancer survivors and the long-term problems they may face as a result of treatments. For the first time, I thought, maybe I'm supposed to go. I owe it to my wife and kids," says Keith, whose wife, Karin, is also a competitive swimmer. Their children are ages 7, 5, and 2.
At 42, the only amputee ever to run across America no longer felt indestructible. He knew that chemotherapy and radiation, particularly the toxic varieties given to him 30 years ago, could cause osteoporosis, heart damage, and a host of other medical and psychosocial problems later in life. He became a patient at the Perini Clinic last January, where he underwent tests to make sure his health was sound and received counseling and advice.
The Perinis had the foresight to recognize the needs of survivors before most others did, and they have set the standard for what a survivor clinic should be," says Keith. I can't tell you how grateful I am." His advice to fellow cancer survivors? We can live active and fulfilling lives, but we need to monitor our health, with specialists, on a yearly basis. We should stay close to friends and family; for me, this is more important than being an athlete. And we should embrace the word 'survivor.'"
