A diagnosis of cancer changes your life forever. We know. We’ve been there.

We are Roger and Kathy Cawthon, married 23 years and "joined at the un-hip" as our kids like to say. We are both 11-year cancer survivors. Diagnosed within six weeks of each other with aggressive cancers (Kathy with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, and Roger with renal cell carcinoma, usually called “kidney cancer”), we underwent more than a year of multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments (and he says she had the added challenge of overcoming those awful glasses!).   After much misery, depression, tears and terror, we decided to become proactive in our battles and added our own complementary therapies of faith, humor, nutrition and exercise. Four years after our simultaneous diagnoses, we completed (please note, we did not say “ran”!) the grueling 26.2-mile Marine Corps Marathon.

We began receiving invitations to tell our story at cancer survivor celebrations, medical and pharmaceutical conferences, and at a variety of non-health related events as well. Today we travel extensively and speak frequently, but The Cancer Crusade’s work has expanded to include free online publications (monthly and weekly) and other free support services for cancer survivors and caregivers including the now world-famous Survivor Movie and this web site.

Our mission in life is to help other cancer survivors and caregivers on their own cancer journeys by lighting their paths a bit, sharing what we have learned along the way, and reminding them that they are never alone.