I do not expect or recommend that people preparing for life's difficulties in the future, or as cancer patients or survivors, try to do what I have done to develop a healthy body, positive mind, and aggressive approach to life. But, to some degree, no matter who you are or what kind of life you have led, you will be a better cancer fighter if you try to improve yourself along these lines. Fight with a fit body, fight with a fit mind, fight with a strong attitude, and you can influence your logevity and outcome.
I had the opportunity to fly the four greatest fighter aircraft in the world of two generations. I flew the F4 Phantom, in which I had 1000 hours and 2 combat tours, and the Russian MiG-21, which were the primary combatants in Vietnam.
I also had the thrill of flying the F-15 Eagle and the Russian MiG-29, the greatest fighters of the next generation, which saw combat in the Gulf War and elsewhere. Of course, it was great to make the comparisons between generations and former enemies.
I ran the Marine Corps Marathon at age 48 and competed on the one-man bobsled run of St. Moritz at the age of 55. I climbed mountains in winter conditions at age 60. I was a sailing instructor and did 30-mile bike rides at age 73.
All of this requires fitness and dedication. I was not an exceptional performer, but I reached for high goals for there is more motivation here than mere fitness. There is nothing special about these activities except to illustrate that all of us can grow and achieve challenging ambitions and enjoyable experiences if we are motivated and work hard to improve. You just have to reach a little higher than you think you can, and persevere when you feel like quitting.
That's the kind of attitude that keeps you young and always looking for something new and challenging to do. That helps you fight cancer so that you can go on enjoying life. You don't have to do it my way; but, you too can be a fighter pilot. It's the spirit that counts.
I have had a long and varied background in military service, education, financial services, management, and writing. Throughout, I have reached high and sought difficult challenges (and sometimes failed), as much for the fun of it as to build a career and train myself to be strong and self-confident in order to reach my ambitious goals.
I decided to become a fighter pilot when I was 15 years old, hoping it would be a good way to change myself and escape from my life as an insecure, wimpy kid with no personality, no goals, no friends, no skills, no sports ability, and no self-confidence. Just creating the ambition was a big step forward. 20 years later I was leading combat flights in Vietnam and became an air combat instructor pilot and leader of a NATO fighter squadron in the most advanced fighter in the world. It took a long time to reach my goal, climbing a very slippery and competitive pole. With that spirit and will, I fight cancer.
I was diagnosed with cancer in March 2006 and began to write this book as an expression of my determination to organize and strengthen my fight against the disease and to advise others on how to do the same. What better way to fight cancer than to research and write a whole book about the idea!
Instead of one career, I have moved around a lot, which has its advantages and pleasures. I have been a university instructor, an author, a newspaper columnist, a magazine editor, a stockbroker, and a manager of brokerage offices and companies. Some would say I have a short attention span, and there have been sacrifices and diversion from responsibilities. But, I have acquired years and experience in conquering my weaknesses and building my strengths, and I hope that creates some credibility to give you advice and write a book about being a motivated fighter against a dangerous enemy.
Few of you will have this kind of training and background, or would want it; my point is not that you should, but that, no matter who you are, you can find your own ways to build and improve the qualities you will need for the fight against cancer.
The fact that my book contains 100 chapters suggests that there might be a lot more to the subject than you realize. No matter how much time you have left, no matter how much uncertainty or danger confronts you, there is opportunity for you to achieve victory. In most cases, the odds are in your favor: but you will have to fight.
Best wishes,
John Roberts
Book Bio
John Roberts has led a diverse life of profession and adventure which provides a useful background for advising and fighting against cancer.
He flew two fighter pilot tours in Vietnam and was a NATO instructor pilot and squadron leader in the world’s most advanced fighter. Later, he became a manager and CEO of several financial services offices, regions, and corporations in the US and Europe. He was also an author, magazine editor, newspaper columnist, and financial writer.
He holds an MBA from New York University and taught Management in a European MBA program. He has engaged in a wide variety of challenging sports, such as the marathon, parachuting, Alpine mountain climbing, one-man bobsledding, ocean sailing, diving, and aerobatics. He has traveled the world and lived for long periods in 12 different countries.
