S5 Ep26: Author, Five-Time Cancer Survivor Shares His Experiences in New Book

<div>Bill C. Potts, author of the book “Up for the Fight,” lends his experiences and knowledge about cancer to his readers as a five-time cancer survivor. <br> <br> “In September of 2020, I woke up from surgery to remove a really painful tumor in below my right hip,” Potts told <em>CURE®</em> during an exclusive interview. “And I had an emotional breakdown, when I was waking up from the surgery in the recovery room, and they called in the pastor and we talked through a lot of things, including the reasons why I should continue to fight the battle. And at the end of that conversation, the pastor told me that I should turn my pain into purpose and write a book to help others.”<br> <br> In 2002, at 42 years old, Potts received a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Since then, he has experienced four cases of lymphoma and, most recently, received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Potts knew he needed to share his story with others, so during chemotherapy treatments, he picked up his laptop and began writing. He grasped the opportunity to urge fellow patients to advocate for themselves, as he learned to do. <br> <br> Potts, at 63 years old, recently celebrated two years in remission and chooses to live in the moment, spending each day doing what he wants to do.<br> <br> In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Potts speaks with <em>CURE</em> about his cancer journey and his book “Up for the Fight.” <br> <br> “I'd kept my cancer (a) secret until the book came out. And now that the book is out, it's challenging at times, because it's hard to talk about,” he said. “Sometimes it can be triggering to talk about it, but mostly what I find is that it's rewarding, and the impact that it's having on other cancer patients. So, I would say that it's a responsibility.”<br> <br> Since sharing his story through writing his book, others with similar experiences have also picked it up, which Potts said was encouraging. It further motivated him to promote his book as a guide for patients and their families. Potts told <em>CURE</em> th