Listen now to Fox News articles. Frank Carter, a 67-year-old cancer survivor from Orange County, Florida, achieved an extraordinary feat by finishing a more than 2,000-mile expedition down the Missouri River. Alongside his dog, Amos, Carter navigated the journey after undergoing groundbreaking immunotherapy.
Over 64 days, Carter paddled his handmade cedar-strip canoe across the longest river in the United States, starting in Montana and concluding near St. Louis, Missouri. His journey was marked by camping along riverbanks and enduring harsh conditions like severe storms, high winds, and hail.
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Before facing cancer, Carter was well-known for his adventurous spirit. In 2019, he hiked the Appalachian Trail, spending five months outdoors, and in 2020, he completed an eight-week bicycle trip from San Diego to New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Carter’s health took a challenging turn after a routine 5K race in 2021. He felt exhausted and unable to recover, leading to a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer affecting white blood cells. He began chemotherapy in Orlando and completed 15 rounds of treatment there.
Despite the chemotherapy’s success in reducing the cancer, traces of the disease persisted. Carter then sought help at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, where he underwent CAR T-cell therapy. This procedure involves extracting a patient’s immune cells, altering them genetically to target cancer cells, and reintroducing them into the body.
Dr. Michael Jain, an oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, explained, “We genetically engineer T-cells by incorporating a CAR into them, enabling them to recognize and eliminate the tumor.” After a single infusion, Carter remained cancer-free for four years, showcasing the treatment’s effectiveness.
Throughout his recovery, Carter found companionship and support in his dog, Amos, whom he adopted before undergoing chemotherapy. “After my cancer diagnosis, I was determined to beat this, and I really wanted a dog during the process. I got Amos right before my first treatment,” Carter shared with the Moffitt’s Endeavor publication.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital. She covers topics like food, travel, and health.