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Two-time Cancer Survivor Summits Denali and Completes Historic Mission to Reach the Seven Continents' Highest Peaks.


Swarner hopes journey will inspire other cancer survivors Cancer survivors are those individuals with cancer of any type, current or past, who are still living. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) pioneered the definition of survivor as from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life, a person diagnosed with  to "Keep Climbing!"

DENALI NATIONAL PARK Denali National Park

Preserve, southern central Alaska, U.S. Established in 1980, it comprises the former Mount McKinley National Park (1917) and Denali National Monument (1978).
, Alaska -- On June 19, Sean Swarner Sean Swarner was the recipient of the Don't Ever Give Up Award presented by the Jimmy V Foundation and ESPN in 2007. He is a two-time cancer survivor who was first diagnosed at age 13 with Hodgkin's Disease and later with Askin's sarcoma. , a two-time cancer survivor, successfully reached the summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . The 20,320-foot climb marked the final summit in Swarner's quest to become the first two-time cancer survivor to mount the highest peak on all seven continents. Following the tradition he began when he summitted Mount Everest in 2002, when he became the first cancer survivor to stand on the world's highest peak, Swarner planted a flag atop Denali with the following words: "Dedicated to all those affected by cancer in this small world! Keep climbing!"

Swarner attempted to summit Denali in May 2006, and most recently in May 2007; however extreme weather conditions forced his team to turn back both times. The June 19 summit not only marked the completion of his goal to reach the seven summits, but also proved to be yet another challenge Swarner was able to overcome.

"Surviving cancer is a lot like climbing Denali," says Swarner, 32. "There are numerous challenges and setbacks along the way, but the goal is to never give up. Most people believe that cancer means an end to your life's travels. The main reason I set this goal was to show those who have cancer that they can beat it and to always keep climbing!"

Swarner's personal story is an inspiration to those with cancer. He is the only person in the world be diagnosed with both Hodgkin's Disease Hodgkin's disease, a type of cancer of the lymphatic system. First identified in 1832 in England by Thomas Hodgkin, it is a type of malignant lymphoma. Incidence peaks in young adults and the elderly.  and Askin's Sarcoma sarcoma (särkō`mə), highly malignant tumor arising in connective- and muscle-cell tissue. It is the result of oncogenes (the cancer causing genes of some viruses) and proto-oncogenes (cancer causing genes in human cells). . He was diagnosed in the final stage of Hodgkin's Disease at 13, and doctors expected him to live for only a few months. He overcame his illness to be stricken a second time when a deadly golf ball-sized tumor attacked his right lung

Main article: Lung


The Right lung is divided into three lobes, superior, middle, and inferior, by two interlobular fissures: Fissures
. He was told he had less than two weeks to live. Now, a decade later and with only partial use of his lungs, Swarner is accomplishing things that most people would never dream possible.

In May 2002, Swarner stood high atop Mount Everest, and has since climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, Mount Aconcagua, Mount Kosciusko, Mount Vinson and now, Denali.

In 2001, Swarner and his brother founded the CancerClimber Association, a not-for-profit foundation that helps those touched by cancer reach their goals. CancerClimber sponsors Adventure Support Grants and will soon offer the Sean Swarner Scholarship. In return, grant recipients are asked to share their story of cancer survival with cancer patients by visiting hospitals, sharing hope and inspiring them to never give up.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a company which operates cancer treatment hospitals and outpatient oncology clinics. It was started over 20 years ago by Richard Stephenson, whose mother died of cancer.  (CTCA CTCA Cancer Treatment Centers of America
CTCA Canadian Telecommunications Consultants Association
CTCA Channel-To-Channel Adapter
CTCA Construction Technology Centre Atlantic, Inc.
) has served as Swarner's sponsor for the Mount Vinson and Denali expeditions. CTCA is a network of cancer treatment centers and community oncology programs that provide complex and advanced stage cancer patients with comprehensive, patient-centered treatment programs focused on treating the body, mind and spirit. Both organizations share a similar mission to empower those touched by cancer.

Residence Inn by Marriott Residence Inn by Marriott is a brand of extended stay hotels. The chain was launched in 1977 in Wichita, Kansas by Jack DeBoer, and acquired by Marriott International in 1987. As of April 2005, there were over 450 Residence Inn hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  was also a sponsor of Swarner's summit, and provided accommodations for the CancerClimber Association team and family members during the summit climbs.

About CancerClimber Association

The CancerClimber Association is a unique, not-for-profit organization dedicated to motivating those living with cancer by encouraging patients to inspire each other. Created through Sean Swarner's vision of summitting Everest and inspiring people across all boundaries, CancerClimber challenges and facilitates cancer survivors to climb their own Everest, thus overcoming their own limitations and mental boundaries. For more information on the events and programs offered by the CancerClimber Association, visit www.cancerclimber.org.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates traditional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported complementary and alternative therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy naturopathy /na·tur·op·a·thy/ (na?cher-op´ah-the) a drugless system of health care, using a wide variety of therapies, including hydrotherapy, heat, massage, and herbal medicine, whose purpose is to treat the whole person to stimulate , psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole-person needs of advanced-stage cancer patients. With a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington, CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions with its Patient Empowerment patient empowerment The providing of information regarding therapeutic options so that a Pt can actively participate in the decision on whether to undergo a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, or pursue alternatives. See Patient Bill of Rights.  Medicine(SM) model.
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Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Jun 20, 2007
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