US Air Force,
SOUTHWEST ASIA (DefenceTalk): “Before I was diagnosed, I was like everybody else. I thought I was bulletproof,” said Lt. Col. Kurt Barry, a 128th Expeditionary Air Command and Control Squadron E-8C Joint STARS mission crew commander.
In October 2004, while serving a staff tour in Europe, Colonel Barry had his annual physical and was surprised when the doctors told him his white blood cell count was high. He was given several exams, and then a CT scan. He said his life was forever changed when the doctor informed him he had cancer.
“It hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't see straight. I felt dizzy. I had to sit down and from that moment, my life changed forever,” Colonel Barry said.
Before he had time to process what was happening, he was rushed into surgery the next day, and doctors removed the tumor from his abdomen.
“They operated on me before I even had time to call home,” he said. “In retrospect, it was the best thing because I learned that you want to treat cancer like taking a weed infesting a flower bed out with a nuke.”
After the operation, Colonel Barry had to wait for the incision to heal before he could go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for follow-on radiation and chemotherapy.
“The worst experience came when I went to Walter Reed in January 2005,” he said. “At first I thought it wasn't so bad. I initially didn't feel tired or any other effects, but as time wore on, I started to feel very exhausted and weak.”
The treatments lasted seven weeks. He said having the support of family and friends and his faith in God is what got him through this difficult time.
During his time at the medical center, he had the opportunity to talk to Lance Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong came back from a much more advanced cancer and went on to win seven Tour de France bike competitions.
“From that moment, I thought of Lance's words, 'mile by mile …' I would keep my goals in sight and continue to make progress toward them,” Colonel Barry said. “As a flier, I was put on non-flying status when I was diagnosed, and my goal was to come back and fly again.”
Later that year, after being diagnosed, he traveled to Paris to see Lance Armstrong win his seventh Tour de France. He said it inspired him to reach his goal of coming back.
He did not want to be separated from the Air Force, so he started working out every day, even prior to radiation and chemotherapy treatment.
“My treatments were at 1 p.m. and I was pretty much a vegetable for the rest of the afternoon,” he said. “In the morning I would work out the best I could, even if I could only do a mile on the treadmill or half an hour on the cross trainer. It was my inch-by-inch goal. So I would go get treatment, pass out and do it again the next day. Every day I woke up alive, I told myself, 'OK, get moving,' and I would force myself.”
When the treatments were over, Colonel Barry went back to Europe. Being on a non-flying tour allowed him the time to figure out how he was going to get back on flying status.
“I needed to pass my Air Force physical fitness test. I knew I wouldn't score a 95 like I had before, but I worked out hard, watched what I ate and scored an 80. That was one more goal accomplished,” he said.
He was scheduled to go through a medical evaluation board and needed strong support from his leadership to keep him in the Air Force.
“I was going through regular quarterly medical evaluations, because they want to see if you have anything left over from your cancer. Everything came back negative,” he said. “I submitted the package to the medical evaluation board and they came back with a recommendation for me to return to flying status. With that, my second and third goals were reached.”
His next goal was getting assigned to a combat flying unit, and with today's Air Force, he said it was not hard. He was re-assigned back to E-8Cs, but found much resistance in getting a waiver to fly again.
He passed his check ride and got a waiver to deploy. He said this is his culmination of coming back from a debilitating condition.
“My message is that you can't let anything get you down,” Colonel Barry said. “Sure, this is a very life-changing event. I was religious before, but now I'm deeply aware that there is a higher power. I had faith that God would help me through.”
He said there are four important steps to overcoming a life-altering medical condition and that staying focused and making goals will get people through.
“Step one is having the attitude that you're going to fight it,” he said. “Medical treatment of cancer has improved since 20 years ago, and I'm thankful for that.”
Step two is going through treatment.
“I've met people who were fine at the beginning of their treatment, but as the weeks went on they were sick and I was there to help them out,” Colonel Barry said. “Just realize that treatment is an ordeal that you have to go through.”
Step three is having the support of family and friends.
“Having those people there for you or to sympathize with you really helps,” he said.
Step four is getting back to normal, getting back to where you were and realizing that there are going to be some changes in your life, Colonel Barry said.
“A big change for me is the regular checkups, including CT scans, MRIs and blood work. I have no control over it. With each 'negative' result, that is another step toward remission,” he said. “Part of getting back to normal is educating other people by saying, 'I need this time off for my medical checks. I'm not goofing off; I just have to get this done because I want to continue to serve in the Air Force and defend my country.'”
Colonel Barry said he does not live in fear that the cancer might come back, for that would be giving in to the disease. He urges everyone to take their medical exams seriously.
If they find out their family has a history of cancer, if they find a bump anywhere, they should get checked out, the colonel said.
His last goal is one that was delayed when he was diagnosed.
“I made my flying goal and am here flying combat missions. My last goal is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania,” Colonel Barry said. “I was supposed to do it with a bunch of buddies before I was diagnosed. It's the largest free-standing mountain in the world.
“Just remember that with the right attitude you can make it through anything and reach your goals. I see life very differently now and don't take things for granted,” Colonel Barry said. “It's good to be flying high again.”
