In March 2003, John Scholz, UD associate professor of physical therapy, was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a deadly form of pancreatic cancer. At the time, Scholz was scheduled to give a talk in Santa Barbara, Calif., but his oncologist discouraged him from going, questioning if he would still be alive.

Scholz says he was struck by the thought that he had to change his life because of the disease. “When I thought about it, I got angry,” he says. “If I don’t win, OK, I don’t win, but I’m going to try everything I can to beat it.”
Scholz defied his doctor and went to the conference. “It was one of the best things I did,” he says.

Scholz continued to live his life as he chose despite strong drug treatments, which left him sick and fatigued. In 2004, he was rediagnosed with a different type of pancreatic cancer for which there are better treatments and a more optimistic prognosis. “In a way, I’ve been blessed because this cancer is not as aggressive,” he says.

Scholz has continued his studies of movement and coordination recovery after a stroke. Using a grant from the National Institutes of Heath, Scholz and other faculty members and graduate students are working to develop a device that will aid patients in their recovery.

Scholz has let cancer change one part of his life, however. His interest in cycling and admiration for cancer survivor and cyclist Lance Armstrong provided him with inspiration to fight his disease. In September, Scholz biked 100 miles in the Livestrong Philadelphia challenge, raising more than $12,500 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He began training in May, riding 30 miles a day, four or five times a week.

“It’s a way of giving back because I’ve been doing well and had good care,” he says.