Editor’s note: On Dec. 11, 2016, Darrell Henry passed away. This ended a three-year struggle that was harder for the cancer than for Henry. “Cancer will have no victory here,” says his sister, Misty Henry.

Darrell Henry has no colon. But he has a heart, the heart of a champion.

Henry’s colon was removed in June 2013 “because of hundreds of polyps and a large cancerous tumor brought on because of familial adenomatous polyposis, a genetic disorder which causes polyps in basically any part of the body. With hundreds of colon polyps it’s inevitable some will become cancerous.”

The biggest drawback to being colon-less: Hydration. “Most of the body’s hydration occurs in the colon. I drink 150-200 ounces per day to stay properly hydrated,” he says.


Doctors used a section of small intestine to build a replacement (called a j-pouch) for the colon and followed up by 12 rounds of chemo. Henry endured one round of chemo every other week for six months.


Henry decided to enjoy the experience as much as possible and dedicate himself to running.

“My intention was to fight as hard as I could, take any treatment necessary and beat cancer but also to gain as much positive from the experience as I could,”

says Henry, who tries to run 50 to 70 miles a week, even during chemo.

Running to Beat Cancer (Again)

“Running was so many things to me. In order to get out in the predawn cold for a 10- or 15-miler during chemo required sitting on the edge of the bed giving myself a pep talk. I would tell myself I was tougher than cancer. Chemo. Surgery. Pushing myself physically through running made chemo seem less of a hurdle. I punished myself physically above what chemo was already doing. That was a huge confidence builder. Not only did it help me physically but mentally and emotionally.”

Pushing himself got Henry through chemo and impressed the medical staff. “My doctors and nurses believed my running background helped my recovery more than anything they could have done,” he says, adding that the chemo treatments ended in January of this year.


Then, cancer returned.

“Being diagnosed with cancer again is no big surprise,” says Henry, of Mulberry, Arkansas. “My genetic mutation is a cancer producer. I was hoping for a longer break, of course. A bit of a letdown and daunting, of course, but there is only one way to look at it. The same way I did the first time. Kill it at any cost.”


For Henry, he uses his experiences to motivate others via social media. He is active on Facebook and Twitter, and uses those forums to inspire his followers. If he can do it, the reasoning goes, they can get out and run, hit the gym or whatever.

“I shall run very hard in the morning. I shall hit the gym at lunch. And on the way home from work. This is everyday. This is for life. For me. And for everyone I know who has cancer.” — Darrell Henry, Facebook post

He continues to work out while undergoing chemo, which started again on Nov. 17. He has five cancerous spots that will be treated with another similar six-month regimen of chemo. Henry is Stage 3B, with a prognosis the same as the first time: a 65 percent survival rate.

“My chemo regimen is three to four hours of infusion every other Monday morning followed by 48 hours attached to a portable chemo pump,” he says. Like the first time, the treatments will go on for six months.

Inspiring Others

For other cancer patients, Henry has some advice: Consult your physician about exercising, for starters. “Then do as much as you are capable of. If that’s walking 100 feet or running 100 miles. It can only help to be active. (New York City Marathon founder) Fred Lebow said running was the greatest way to fight cancer and I have to agree,” says Henry, who started running at age 27.


When Henry started running, he was suffering from chest pains — stress from his job. He was also overweight and had high blood pressure. “I decided to get in shape, lose weight, and manage my stress rather than rely on medication,” he recalls. “Within a few weeks I was increasing my running mileage and cutting my times and became addicted to how it felt. I’ve always been the type to overdo anything I enjoy. Running is no different.”


Now he hears from people via social media on how he inspires them, which in turn, motivates Henry to keep moving forward.

“People often say my story inspires them. Whether they read it on posts on FB or elsewhere and to hear that inspires me to push harder. To never give up. Knowing they use my efforts to strive harder compels me to run farther and harder. I don’t want to let them down.”


He hopes his blog — https://chasingcancer.wordpress.com/ — will inspire and help others. But it’s also personal therapy. “Writing it. Thinking about it and seeing it laid out in front of me will help me stay focused and watch the progression of this fight.”


Some people have also started fundraising drives to help Henry out.

“The fundraising drives have been surprising,” he says. “I didn’t know anyone planned to do so and these are people I’ve never met in person. To go through the trouble for me is so very touching. Restores a bit of faith in humanity to see others go out of their way to help. It makes me more aware of how I can help others. If they can do this for me I certainly must strive to help others even more so.”


Henry also is inspired by the cancer survivors he has met, including a woman who has beaten cancer four different times.

“It’s the people who face great difficulty but never let it take what they love from them,” he says. “They move forward with purpose and are able to enjoy life as they do so. I wouldn’t give up cancer if given the opportunity. I hope it doesn’t kill me, sure. But it has enriched my life, my experience in such a profound way and in so many ways. I am a much better person because of it.”