KANOPOLIS — Patrick Perez wasn’t feeling quite like himself.

And he hadn’t for months now. Something seemed off.

Swallowing solid foods was becoming nearly impossible without choking, and what seemed like a minor sore throat had now developed into a persistent problem he just couldn’t shake.

Eventually, Perez, a Kanopolis resident and Ellsworth High School grad, had to give up his job. He tired too easily and couldn’t make it through the workday without taking two to three naps. That’s when he knew something was wrong.

Ten months and six doctors later, he was meeting with another medical practitioner, a Salina-based ear, nose and throat specialist, to see if he could determine what was causing his health issues. In a matter of minutes, Perez had his answer, and it wasn’t good.

“He told me to open my mouth, and began looking inside,” he said. “And he told me, ‘You have cancer.’”

To be certain, the doctor plucked various tissue samples from his mouth and throat, which would be more closely examined. Those samples only confirmed the doctor’s suspicions.

Perez was diagnosed with throat and mouth cancer in October 2018, and what would follow, he said, was a painful journey.

Because the disease was found in the earlier stages, doctors prescribed an aggressive treatment plan consisting of 35 rounds of radiation and three chemo treatments administered every two weeks. Each chemo round lasted 5 ½ to six hours each, he said.

In the months leading up to his diagnosis, Perez’s weight was in a nosedive, rapidly shrinking his original 244- pound frame. His weight only plummeted from there, eventually dropping by more than 120 pounds.

In December 2019, Perez began experiencing problems with his oxygen levels, and traveled to Newton for weekly treatments in the local hospital’s hyperbaric chamber. Those treatments, 40 in all, abruptly ended earlier this year once the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.

Nearly two years later, Perez, who will be 52 next month, not only celebrates the fact he’s alive, but in May marked his first year as being cancer-free. He will be retested in August.

While he has his doctors to thank, Perez said the Ellsworth County Cancer Fund and chairman Debbie Mog played an important role in his recovery.

“If it hadn’t been for the fund, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. Mog not only helped him get grant dollars to pay off his bills, but also lifted him spiritually through prayer.

“I never necessarily believed in the power of prayer — that it would help — but I’m still here,” he said. “When I went to see Debbie, I felt like I went down there like a dog with its tail between its legs. I felt bad for asking for help. But she explained how I shouldn’t. She has been a blessing.”

Each year, the ECCF selects an individual as its honorary chairperson to speak at the triathlon. This year, the group is honoring Perez.

Perez thought he had to tackle his disease on his own and had no idea the fund existed until a friend suggested he talk to Mog.

“At the time, I was driving my own (vehicle) back and forth every day,” he said. “They helped with the fuel costs. They helped with the hotel, food and travel expenses. The cancer (fund) has been a blessing ... Debbie has really helped me along.”

“The cancer (fund) goes to a good cause. It takes the burden off ... they just help in various ways. I can’t say enough. People should support the cancer (fund) because they’re helping those who are going through the toughest thing in their lives.”

VICTORIOUS

The coronavirus forced organizers of the annual Ellsworth County Cancer Fund to cancel its 2020 event, normally held the second weekend in June. To keep the issue before the public, the Ellsworth County I-R dedicates this week’s edition to the survivors and others whose lives have been touched by cancer. See Pages B1-B3 for more stories.