At 70 years old, I had lived an accomplished life. I was a husband and the father of three, and had a successful career as a New York Times advertising executive. However, many of my greatest feats were yet to come: tackling cancer, dedicating my life to physical fitness, launching a championship-winning weight-lifting career, and becoming a role model for anyone who’s looking to make a change.
Over Thanksgiving weekend in 2019, I was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer.
I was staying with family in our country home in Upstate New York when I received the diagnosis from a local hospital and quickly made my way to New York City and NYU Langone, where I had long received care.
I was shocked and stunned. After some initial research, I assumed I had about 90 days to live.
But after a biopsy, NYU Langone oncologist Paul Oberstein, MD, and his team reassured me that the cancer was slow-growing and that I had every chance to live, with the caveat that I must improve my physical health, change my diet, and exercise more.
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” I told Dr. Oberstein. “I’m going to be the most physically fit patient you’ve ever seen in your entire life!”
What may have seemed like a joke turned into a deeply committed personal declaration.
At that point, I wasn’t super active. I had quit smoking 15 years prior, but no one told me the downside of alcohol during my days entertaining international clients in the advertising world! I needed to create a regimen that would improve my fitness and help me beat this disease.
From there, I was determined to be as fit as I could possibly be.
I started by walking 30 minutes a day.
Then I ran.
I lifted weights.
Then heavier weights.
I changed how I ate and virtually quit drinking.
I watched hours of YouTube tutorials on abdominal workouts, push-pull-legs workouts, and everything in between.
My wife, Juliana, and I built a fully equipped home gym in our three-car garage during COVID to safely work out; our cars became relegated to the driveway.
I logged sub-nine-minute mile times and bench-pressed my weight.
Then, this past year, after five years of health progress, a minor skin cancer scare, and hours upon hours of working out and getting stronger, I entered the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation National Competition.
Embodying my rallying cry of being the most physically fit patient ever, I won my age/weight class and was crowned over-75 champion. As Juliana put it, “If we’re going to drive five and a half hours for this, you better win…No pressure!!”
Over the course of my health journey, I’ve been lucky to serve as an inspiration to my family and loved ones. My son, Paris, and daughter Tiffany now compete in body-building competitions, and my daughter Caroline has started her fitness program as well. All have developed an affinity for fitness.
Having been forced to make changes myself, I now love helping others reach their health goals. “Just move!” I say. No matter your age or your fitness level, you can start with walking and simple exercises like jumping jacks to get on a path to better health.
NYU Langone’s care changed my life.
Although it took immense self-motivation to become a powerlifting champion, my doctors and nurses were the expert guides I needed to take on cancer. Every time you go into NYU Langone, you feel like you’re somebody special. You feel like people care for you and they bend over backward to give you the best experience they can.
Another reason I love my care at NYU Langone is the online MyChart app. I can contact all my doctors, ask questions, make appointments, review all my test results, and check my medications all in one place, online 24/7.
I don’t feel like a number or an ID when I’m there. I feel like I’m Paul Perkins, and they’ve done their research; they know who I am. I learned their stories, too, and have been inspired by who my doctors and nurse practitioners are as people.
It took a team of healthcare professionals to get my health on course and give me the strength (no pun intended) to achieve my goals. A special thank you to Paul E. Oberstein, MD, Shantal Ginsberg, RN, Zefie Kanos, NP, Kent P. Friedman, MD, and Irvine Lee for my liver cancer treatment; Jennifer Ann Stein, MD, and Maressa C. Criscito, MD, for my skin cancer treatment; Kenneth Vera, MD, my primary care physician; and Gregory M. Katz, MD, for my heart health.
Next year, 2025, my goal is to compete in the National Senior Games in powerlifting, as well as the pole vault, long jump, and high jump.
My philosophy is to just strengthen my core as much as possible and build my muscles. I will then concentrate on the jumping techniques as I continue to grow the jumping muscles. I think it is important to continuously challenge yourself to keep your interest in exercising at a high level. Set tough goals.
In the meantime, I’ll remain close to NYU Langone, getting tests done when needed and keeping my care team in my thoughts as I conquer more fitness challenges and try to inspire more people.
Thanks to NYU Langone, I had a wake-up call and the support I needed to transform my life. I learned that when you have a chance to get healthy, you can’t give up. You just have to do it. Just move!