Todd Kackley, a three-time cancer survivor, shares his journey of resilience, walking his daughter down the aisle, and advocating for early cancer detection.
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — For Todd Kackley, March 30, 2023, will forever hold a special place in his heart. It was the day he walked his daughter, Isabella Valencia, down the aisle at her wedding — a moment he feared he might never live to see.
“It was a long walk, but it was a great walk,” Kackley said, reflecting on the day.
Years before, Kackley’s life took an unexpected turn when he began experiencing stomach pains and other symptoms. Busy with work, he delayed seeing a doctor for about eight months.
“I was getting a routine colonoscopy, and the doctors told me that I had cancer,” Kackley recalled.
The diagnosis led to eight rounds of chemotherapy and surgery.
As things were looking bright for his health, his daughter got engaged, and their family began planning her big day. However, the cancer returned, this time spreading to his lungs. The treatment was aggressive and would be completed only 60 days before the wedding.
Despite facing another surgery and chemotherapy, Kackley achieved his goal. He was able to walk Valencia down the aisle.
“Driving up to the church together and just looking at each other, we thought, ‘We did it. We made it,’” Valencia said.
Then this past summer, Kackley’s cancer returned for a third time. He beat it again.
Now a three-time cancer survivor, Kackley serves as a volunteer board member of CEOs Against Cancer through the American Cancer Society, determined to help others detect the disease early.
“In the United States, one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime,” Kackley said. “Take the time to take care of yourself. Don’t put it off.”
Colorectal cancer, in particular, is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women in Texas. According to the American Cancer Society, over half of all colorectal cancers are linked to modifiable risk factors like diet and smoking. Early detection through routine screening can be vital, offering the best chance for effective treatment.
This year has been especially difficult for the Kackley family. In addition to his ongoing battle with cancer, his mother-in-law died of cancer right before the holidays.
“That just puts it a little more into perspective — how real this is,” he said.