Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Holtz.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
On March 27, 2022, I mark my 10th anniversary as a stage 3b rectal cancer survivor. I was diagnosed five days after my 43rd birthday. I endured 11 months of treatment that included radiation therapy and concurrent oral chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor, and then six months of infused chemotherapy. Because the tumor was larger than my surgeon expected and scar tissue on my rectum was so severe, I ended up with a permanent colostomy.
I was working for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network as a public relations practitioner, and I used my experience with rectal cancer as an opportunity to demystify diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. I used my social media platforms to share every step of the process, no matter how challenging. Ten years on, I’m still open about my health to help people understand that just because I was finished with treatment in 2013 didn’t mean I was “over” cancer. I have some life-long side effects and other ailments that have cropped up since I was declared No Evidence of Disease, including neuropathy in my feet, non-pressure glaucoma, high blood pressure, and more.
I left ACS CAN in the fall of 2014, but returned as a volunteer in 2015 and have continued in my role as state lead volunteer ever since. We at ACS CAN work to make cancer a legislative priority at the federal, state, and local level, including focusing on issues like increased funding for cancer research and making access to health care a reality for everyone regardless of who they are or where they live.
I’ve written a book about my experience, called “It’s Not Harder Than Cancer: The Mindsets You Need to Survive and Thrive After Serious Illness.” In addition to legislative advocacy, healthy eating and active living during and after treatment is an important issues to me. And, I love sharing my story with others to help patients one-on-one or to encourage others to get involved in cancer advocacy.
Experiencing cancer helped me understand the profound power of expressing gratitude. I discovered a book called “one thousand gifts” by Ann Voskamp during treatment that helps me understand how expressing gratitude for just three things every day can help you through life’s most difficult situations, like the diagnosis and treatment of a disease. Expressing gratitude didn’t change the fact that treatment in fact sucked, but it helped me stay present to the fact that God was with me through the entire experience.
Cancer also strengthened my marriage. Sarah and I traveled the road together. In fact, I believe she carried the larger burden. My job was to get well. Her job was to take care of everything else, including keeping me fed, medicated, on time for appointments, etc., in addition to working her own full-time job. Caregivers don’t get the appreciation they justly deserve for the commitment and love of their patients.
I have to add that cancer also helped me see the value of being surrounded by people who love and support you. I wrote in my book that if you took a family photo of all of the people in your life before cancer and after, some of the faces would change. Friends who were actively helping us get through treatment disappeared halfway through. I don’t know why, and I don’t ask. On the other hand, other people came into the frame during treatment and after.
Now, rather than considering before and after family photos, I see life as a photo where people move around the frame. Some are really close for a time, and then step away, or new faces enter in and get really close. I’m blessed to have some great people in my inner circle who weren’t part of my life before, during, or even immediately after treatment, but have come on the scene since treatment ended.
Finding new close friends at this stage of life is a gift I don’t take for granted.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, it’s been a smooth road.
There have been a bunch of post-treatment side effects and health issues, including left ventricular hypertrophy, High blood pressure, Congestive heart failure, Seven cavities, Non-pressure glaucoma, Neuropathy in both feet, Low testosterone, Fragile kidneys, Obstructive sleep apnea, Restless leg syndrome, a lung nodule that turned out to be scar tissue from an unknown infection, Hyperparathyroidism, and Atrial Fibrillation.
While that’s a lot to deal with and it means I take more medications than I ever imagined, one of my mantras is KFG (Keep F’ing Going). That’s all I can do.
There is a perception that cancer survivors are superheroes because many of us defy the odds. My surgeon, the amazing Dr. Greg Midis, told me I wasn’t supposed to live to the five-year mark, but I didn’t experience a recurrence. Yeah, I should be dead, but I’m not a superhero. I admit I embraced the notion of being Superman for several years, but it’s exhausting to always have to be strong, especially as health concerns keep being added to my list.
I had a serious bout with anxiety during the pandemic caused by working from home, being overwhelmed with work and life in general, and I put down my Superman cape. I’m just a guy who survived the disease and is doing everything he can to ensure that one-day cancer no longer exists.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Senior Communication Specialist for ORAU, a federal government contractor based in Oak Ridge.
I love my job because I get to tell stories about my company’s work and the amazing people I work with every day. My company has a lot of capabilities, which makes a 30-second elevator speech virtually impossible. These capabilities include workforce development, health communication, K-12 STEM education, disaster preparedness planning, radiation cleanup verification, radiation emergency medicine, scientific peer review, and so much more.
I am most proud of launching our company podcast, called Further Together, the ORAU Podcast, in 2019. It has become an integral communication channel for my company and we are about to launch a video version in the coming week. I think what sets me apart from others is my creativity and my ability to tell an interesting story.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My relentlessness, especially when it comes to cancer advocacy.
Whether it’s reaching out to lawmakers (I have relationships with staff members in the offices of Senators Blackburn and Hagerty), getting community engagement, securing media coverage, or fundraising, I will do anything and everything I can to end cancer.
Contact Info:
- Email: michael@michaelholtzonline.com
- Website: https://michaelholtzonline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelholtzonline/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mholtzonline
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelholtz
Image Credits
Max Ganly
