Joshua Wilkins

Joshua studied at Temple University. In the summer of 2012 he is riding with a group of college students on a 70 day, 4000+ mile bike ride from Baltimore to Portland.

What is your connection with the cancer community?

I was diagnosed with parathyroid cancer when I was 14 years old. The tumor was found wrapped around my vocal cords and when the surgeons removed it, they were concerned that I might never speak again, or that I would have a permanent rasp. I recall the first thing that happened after I woke up in recovery was a group of doctors and interns all pressing me to say something, just to ensure I still had any kind of voice at all. I am proud to say that I have since gone on receive my degree in music with a vocal concentration from Temple University, marking the surgery a success in that regard. Unfortunately, the cancer had already metastasized before the surgeons were able to remove it, so although I am a cancer survivor, I cannot say that I am in full remission. This type of cancer can recur in any of my endocrine organs so I am currently being monitored for recurrences. Although I was the person who had the operation and all the testing for years afterwards, I believe it was my mother who suffered the most. The surgeon told her that her son had cancer and then left alone to ponder the enormity of that statement as he unfeelingly walked away. My mother later found in her research that the mortality rate for my specific type of cancer is 50% within five years. She faced the difficult task of trying to raise a teenage son while trying to make an awful decision: should she tell her son so that he is aware and educated about his condition, or should she keep the knowledge to herself, so as not to setup a self-fulfilling prophecy in the mind of a head-strong teenager? I remember that it was a challenge for my mother to raise me with that knowledge. She was never sure how much discipline or leeway to give to a teenager who wanted nothing more than to hang out with his friends. What if he were to die in a few years and was not able to live his short life to the fullest? These were the questions that plagued my mother after my diagnosis. There have been studies that discuss how family members can suffer even more than the diagnosed individual though the patient experiences greater physical symptoms. I know this has been the experience for my family. The trials we have been through together with doctors, hospitals, testing, endless specialists, and all the time we spent together in the car has formed a close bond between my mother and me. I would be honored to specifically dedicate this ride to her.

Why are you riding the 4K for Cancer?

It has been my pride and pleasure in recent years to meet a number of physical challenges with this body that 10 years ago was given a 50% chance of life or death. I began running in college and have since completed two 10 mile races, one half marathon, and two sprint triathlons. I was looking for my next potential trial when I went to a presentation given by two friends about their own trans-continental bike ride. They were able to meet people that they may otherwise have never come in contact with: perfect strangers who were willing to open their homes to a pair of weary bikers at the end of the day, wonderful hosts who only asked in return for stories of the open road. It instantly struck me as a possible life-changing journey, a way to see my country by the power of my own two feet (and a series of gears). I realized that this was the perfect time to make this trip. I am young, independent, and healthy enough to make this journey. I know through my work at a nursing home that our time on this earth is limited, and we have to make the most of the span we are given. Many people are not given the opportunity to complete an adventure such as this, and many can only dream of it. I thought that while it would be wonderful to make this journey for my own enrichment, it would be even better to find some way to make it meaningful beyond myself. I would like to give my time to community service for the cancer community because I have learned that a helpful and supportive person in the right place can have a huge impact.  This effect can be felt far beyond the length of time the people are together, as I learned from one of the doctors on my treatment team. A certain oncology fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was a part of my treatment team for the entirety of my hospital stay. I remember her being incredibly kind and supportive to my family and me, in particular to my mother, who was almost constantly at the hospital. Looking back at that time, I realize that I only knew this doctor for a very short while, but she made a large impact on my life through her kindness. During my time as a music therapist, it has been my pleasure to be able to use my talents to bring some measure of peace and comfort to people who are experiencing pain. However, I realize that I have never worked with the very population that I am a part of. 4k for Cancer would be a perfect way to contribute through service to the cancer community. Additionally, I would be able to donate to a degree I could not achieve by my own individual monetary means.