Sixty pounds is a lot of weight to lose, and Dave Duval lost more than that in less than two months.
He couldn’t keep food down and eventually was unable to tolerate even water. His family and friends urged him to seek care, and a friend at Atlanta Cancer Center encouraged him to come in for testing.
At 43, he was diagnosed with gastroesophageal cancer.
"My first thoughts were always about what would happen if I left my family early, which became one of my main drives to beat this beast," the Cumming resident said.
His three sons were 15, 13 and 8 years old at the time, and he was intent on being there for each of their milestones.
Facing cancer head-on
After his diagnosis in August 2020, Dave, a high school teacher and volleyball coach, underwent a feeding tube insertion and started an intensive chemotherapy regimen called FLOT for several months under the care of medical oncologist Dr. Sreekanth Reddy.
Chemotherapy was followed by surgery to remove his entire stomach, a procedure called a total gastrectomy, performed by surgical oncologist Dr. Malini D. Sur. The end of his esophagus and many lymph nodes were also removed. After recovering from surgery, Dave transitioned from the feeding tube to eating regularly while undergoing four more rounds of the FLOT regimen.
The cancer had been completely killed by the chemotherapy, but the treatment took a toll on Dave's body and mind. His memory is foggy, but he remembers the people who cared for him.
“The nurses were awesome,” he said. “No one wants to be there for chemotherapy, but the nurses did a great job keeping the environment positive.”
He also appreciated that his physicians took the time to listen and explain what was happening and what he could expect during and after treatment.
Learning to live differently
Today, Dave said he is doing great. He and his wife, Valleri, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and he is entering his 28th year of teaching and his 20th year of coaching volleyball.
But his day-to-day looks very different today.
Because of the total gastrectomy, he has to carefully watch his eating habits. Foods he once loved, including sweets, steak and dense breads, can now cause digestive problems, lightheadedness and fatigue.
"The impact food can have on my body can be good one day, and the next day my body cannot tolerate it, and there are consequences," he said.
To avoid those symptoms, Dave eats smaller amounts throughout the day. He eats about every two hours and keeps a lunchbox stocked with foods such as cereal, yogurt, string cheese, kimchi, nuts, crackers and fresh fruit.
He also receives regular vitamin B12 shots and takes iron, vitamin D and other supplements to help maintain his nutritional levels.
Chemotherapy also caused neuropathy in his feet, making shoes uncomfortable. So Dave has built a collection of quirky, colorful socks to wear while teaching and coaching.
"I am not going to lie; cancer took a lot from me, and I will remember its toll for the rest of my life," he said. "What I won’t allow it to do is keep me from winning and enjoying life."
A life worth fighting for
The hardest part of his cancer journey was maintaining a positive outlook when things were at their darkest. He and his wife made a commitment to face each day together, no matter how difficult it became.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, dealing with cancer really taught me about enjoying life and cherishing those around you," he said. "I know I can be a little over the top with my enjoyment of life these days, but I will not apologize because I firmly understand what I almost ended up missing."
Now, he gets to watch his sons reach the milestones he fought so hard to see. His eldest will graduate college soon, his middle son participates in Special Olympics, and his youngest plays soccer as a goalkeeper.
For others facing a cancer diagnosis, Dave encourages them to focus on the life they are fighting to get back to, rather than the statistics.
"Do not worry about what the numbers say," he said. "I honestly never knew my numbers, as this information will cause more fright than positivity. ... Always keep at the front of your thoughts that you are fighting so you can continue to enjoy life and make more awesome memories with those around you."
Now, Dave has another reason to keep looking forward. His wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and the journey they thought was behind them has begun again. This time, Dave will be the one supporting her.
“She will beat this monster with even more vigor than I did,” he said. “And then we will have a story to tell together.”
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