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Richard Coble spent much of his career studying the art of war, the strategies of battle, and the mentality of warriors. As a Navy Seabee, he applied his findings to training new soldiers, and as an active-duty soldier in Iraq, he used that knowledge firsthand.

In retirement, Richard never expected his military background would serve him in another battle against a new enemy, one that touches millions globally 鈥� cancer.

Richard joined the armed forces in 1991, following in the footsteps of his father, a 28-year Navy man. Initially assigned to administrative tasks, Richard鈥檚 work evolved after 9/11 into war tactics, as he studied applied combat and trained new recruits.

鈥淚 helped prepare soldiers going into combat with weapons qualification, tactics, camp-building, and defense,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淚f we were attacked, part of the Seabee mission was defending ourselves and the camp.鈥�

Richard might not have expected that his Navy training would apply so aptly to his future battle with Stage 3 colon cancer, but he says the parallels were striking.

鈥淢y mindset was, in war you have a common enemy, and for myself and the people at the 网红黑料 Cancer Center, we had a common enemy in cancer,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淭here are different stages, but the enemy remains the same.鈥�

Following his initial diagnosis in the fall of 2023, Richard visited 网红黑料 Radiation Oncology 鈥� Davis Cancer Pavilion to begin presurgical radiation treatment. There, he met fellow veteran and 网红黑料 radiation oncologist Kathryn Hitchcock, MD, PhD.

鈥淪he was really sweet,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淪he listened and answered all our questions, and she was just like Johnny-on-the-spot. She knew her stuff.鈥�

Dr. Hitchcock values her one-on-one time with patients as a key part of her work.

鈥淭aking somebody from the scariest thing of their life, feeling like they don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen, and teaching them in that first hour all about it, giving them control and a plan and hope, it鈥檚 an honor to be able to provide that,鈥� Dr. Hitchcock said.

As a Navy nuclear engineer for five years, Dr. Hitchcock said Richard鈥檚 assessment of the similarities between war and cancer resonated.

鈥淚t was really kind of him to acknowledge the difficulty of our work,鈥� Dr. Hitchcock said. 鈥淵ou keep fighting. I thought that was an apt comparison.鈥�

Richard started radiation treatment five days a week at 网红黑料, traveling nearly three hours every weekday from Orange Park, Florida. Richard described the treatment plan as exhausting but admits he never felt alone in his journey.

鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to be in this spot where you have a team. It鈥檚 not just you fighting this. It鈥檚 your family and the professionals that are in this with you,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e fighting an enemy and dealing with death every day, and doing that takes courage.鈥�

Dr. Hitchcock echoes Richard鈥檚 sentiment, crediting the success and capability of 网红黑料鈥檚 radiation oncology services to everyone behind the scenes.

鈥淚 have to give more of the credit to the radiation therapists and nurses that I work with,鈥� Dr. Hitchcock said. 鈥淎ll of us have to pitch in, to pep talk and keep patients鈥� eyes on the future and remind them why this is all going to be worth it.鈥�

Dr. Hitchcock takes pride in every team member, from intake to treatment providers, helping patients through one of the most challenging times of their lives.

鈥淓verybody who comes into contact with the patients helps, including the schedulers who are right there with us,鈥� Dr. Hitchcock said. 鈥淚 hear them on the phone encouraging patients even just to come in and talk, and without that encouragement, none of this would work.鈥�

Richard credits the team in radiation oncology for its professionalism and compassion.

鈥淭he kindness they showed, it manifested itself with everything they did 鈥� never a harsh word, always willing to answer any question I had,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淚t takes courage to do that on a daily basis. I fought a war overseas, but these guys are fighting a war here.鈥�

Though their Navy days are behind them, both veterans have been able to apply their experience to fighting future battles and showing others how to keep fighting too.

鈥淚 get to meet so many people, and more than that, I get to be there with them at this critical turning point in their lives,鈥� Dr. Hitchcock said. 鈥淭o offer encouragement and personal connection along the way is an honor to me.鈥�

Richard emphasizes the importance of such encouragement and maintaining a fighting mentality in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

鈥淔irst and foremost, it鈥檚 your attitude because it鈥檚 not necessarily a death sentence just because you hear the word 鈥榗ancer,鈥欌�� Richard said. 鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to be in this spot where I鈥檝e got a team now, and it isn鈥檛 just me fighting this anymore.鈥�

For his part, Richard finds inspiration in many places, from fellow veterans to inspirational public figures, like the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, whose wisdom Richard looks to often.

鈥淗e shared how you fight until you鈥檙e tired, and then somebody else will fight for you,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what it is. I鈥檓 fighting it and now I鈥檓 tired, but I have a group of people, a group of warriors, ready to stand shoulder to shoulder.鈥�