Living Life to the Fullest
Latest Update: Don't miss the latest Navigating Cancer Together podcast with Talaya Dendy featuring Thom Barrett.
Live on September 18th
My Mission
Thom's mission is to inspire others to embrace life fully despite the challenges of illness. Through honest exploration and positivity, Thom seeks to offer support and motivation, celebrating courage and zest in navigating life's toughest challenges with hope and adventure.
Thom Barrett
Thom is an avid adventurer. His love for new places has taken him around the world, experiencing the cultures, the wonders of nature, and the challenges that each affords. He was a partner with PwC and worked there for 35 years before he retired and moved to Cape Cod. He now splits his time between his summers working in his workshop on Cape Cod building custom furniture and the rest of the year traveling with his furry friend, Dexter, throughout the Americas. One of his current travel goals is to travel from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina. To date, he has been from Prudhoe Bay to the Mexican Border. In 2024, he expects to travel from Antarctica to Columbia. Hopefully, Central America is where he’ll travel in 2025. The goal is to travel the entirety of the Pan-American highway eventually.
Why read my books
Some books are meant to educate, others to make someone laugh, or provide inspiration and motivation, or emotional and personal growth. My objective in writing my books is a combination of all of these.
I have stage IV cancer and am not letting this cancer define my life or dictate how I will live my remaining days.
My first book, "Living While Dying," is more than a memoir; it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This book offers an intimate look into my journey with stage IV cancer, providing a raw and honest account of the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges I faced daily. Readers will find solace in the candid portrayal of my struggles and triumphs, learning that life, even when shadowed by a terminal diagnosis, can be filled with meaning, purpose, and beauty. Through my story, I hope to inspire others to cherish each moment, find strength in vulnerability, and live authentically despite life's uncertainties. This book is for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of living fully in the face of mortality.
In "Chasing My Northern Lights," my second book, I take you on an adventure across stunning landscapes of North America, illustrating how travel and nature have become my sanctuary and source of strength. This travel narrative intertwines personal reflections on the healing power of nature with practical insights on how exploring the world can offer profound emotional and spiritual benefits. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or someone seeking inspiration to venture out, this book will ignite your wanderlust and show how connecting with the natural world can provide solace and perspective during life's most challenging times. My experiences demonstrate that the pursuit of beauty and adventure is not just a diversion from illness but a path to healing and resilience.
Books
"Living While Dying" by Thom Barrett is a poignant memoir detailing his experiences and insights from battling stage IV prostate cancer. Eight years ago, Thom's life took an unexpected turn with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Initially, he believed a surgery to remove his prostate would cure him, but the cancer had already advanced to stage III, spreading beyond the gland.
The book chronicles Thom's journey since 2015, starting from the initial signs of rising PSA levels to the life-altering biopsy in 2016. After a period of remission, where Thom embraced travel and active living, the cancer returned in 2019, necessitating further treatments like external beam radiation and androgen deprivation therapy.
Despite these challenges, Thom has continued to lead a fulfilling life, traveling and volunteering, even as recent tests in early 2023 showed the cancer's progression to his lymph nodes and chest. Now 67, he faces the realities of stage IV cancer with determination and hope, aiming to surpass survival expectations and maintain a quality life.
This book isn't a step-by-step guide on battling cancer but a deeply personal narrative about living fully in the face of illness. Thom's story emphasizes the power of positivity and the significance of cherishing each moment, offering inspiration to others with cancer and their supporters. It's a testament to facing life's hardest challenges with unwavering strength and optimism. Grab your copy today!
Delve into a world where the boundaries between adventure and introspection blur against the backdrop of Earth's most captivating landscapes. This isn't just a travelogue; it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit. In an intersection of wanderlust and adversity, Barrett's raw and unfiltered narrative confronts the harsh realities of living with stage IV prostate cancer while embarking on a seven-month odyssey of overlanding and skiing.
Chasing My Northern Lights is a beacon of hope for those navigating their trials. It offers a unique perspective on finding beauty in uncertainty and strength in struggle. With each turn of the page, be reminded of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of seizing every moment with courage and grace. From the celestial dance of the Northern Lights to the rugged allure of mountain peaks, be transported to the heart of the wilderness, where every sunrise brings the promise of renewal and every sunset whispers of resilience. For those who dare to chase their own Northern Lights, this book is a guiding light in life's wilderness.
Between Worlds - Epic Overland journey.
Embarking on an extraordinary journey through South America, I am set to explore it's cast landscape and rich cultures, all while navigating the challenges of living with Stage IV cancer.
This book to be launched in 2025