Joe Bibbo: Cancer, a Renewed Mindset and Encouraging Others
Joe Bibbo never expected to be diagnosed with cancer. But, from the day he was diagnosed, he embodied Jim Valvano’s “Don’t Give Up . . . Don’t Ever Give Up!”® mantra, aggressively going through treatment and living his life to the fullest. That positive and powerful mindset has pushed him through each hurdle on his cancer journey.
Joe’s Cancer Journey
After a few months of feeling under the weather, Joe was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on May 1, 2017. Joe knew immediately he wanted to be aggressive in his path to treatment.
He began treatments at his local hospital in Florence, South Carolina, before eventually being accepted to go through a stem cell transplant at Duke University. Following the transplant, he continued medication which helped keep his cancer under control, allowing him to live a full and active life.
Unfortunately, in January 2024, Joe’s doctors saw an increase in some of his test results, indicating a relapse in his disease. His doctors created a new plan with recent advances in cancer research. Joe’s been on this treatment regimen for over a year and is keeping the “Don’t Ever Give Up” motto with each step. Part of his new treatment plan includes an injection of monoclonal antibodies once per month and daily oral dose of chemotherapy. This five-minute injection allows him to avoid a 10+ hour IV infusion, a testament to research in action that provides a higher quality of life for patients.
“If it wasn’t for research, we wouldn’t have medications, we wouldn’t have the knowledge and understanding, we wouldn’t have people in the labs or doctors. It takes foundations like the V Foundation to provide those resources.”
Throughout Joe’s entire journey, he’s seen the impact of research, and the importance of continuing the efforts of the V Foundation.
“If it wasn’t for research, these medications would not be available to us,” Joe said. “I think the advancements in cancer research today and where it’s going are just phenomenal. They can now test people so much earlier and find it before it even gets to cancer. What a dream. If Jimmy V knew that this kind of stuff would take place back when he was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 when he put forth those efforts to make some of this possible for all of us, that’s just absolutely fantastic.”
Supported by Family, Fly Fishing for a Purpose
Even with Joe’s unwavering positivity, he’ll be the first to tell you that he could not do it alone. The significant support by family, friends, and medical providers during his now eight-year battle has kept him motivated.
“I’ve had fantastic support. My wife, Judy, my sons, Max and Willie, my sister Jeanette, and our other family members and friends have always been very supportive and that’s so important with cancer survivors,” Joe said. “I’m very blessed to have the support I do.”
Joe has found ways to turn around even the most difficult situations. For example, when he experienced sleeplessness as a side effect of medication, he started doing yard-work in the middle of the night. The first time while doing the yard-work, he startled his wife who threatened to call the police. After cutting the grass, he needed to keep busy so he moved onto painting rooms in the house at night. Within a couple months, his entire home was freshly painted.
Joe retired from his career in 2019, two years after his first diagnosis. When many saw cancer closing doors around them, Joe took a different approach.
“Cancer certainly afforded me the opportunity to change the road I’m on,” Joe said. “It’s taken me to some remarkable, beautiful places, otherwise I probably would not have gone to some of these fantastic places.”
A lot of the beautiful places were through fly fishing and fellowship. Joe has traveled the U.S. and internationally to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences fly fishing. Fly fishing has strengthened Joe’s emotional and mental health, even supporting groups of fly fisherman and women who are cancer thrivers and creating a niche community that he proudly belongs.
Encouraging Others
Joe could now be seen as a veteran of walking life with cancer, shoes he never dreamed of wearing but were tied to his feet. He’s made the most of this, offering to share his story and encourage others on a similar path.
“I’ve had Victory Over Cancer®. I was diagnosed, I went through treatment, and I’ve been able to live a full life. What a victory. The places I’ve been, the people I’ve been around, the fellowship I’ve had. When I was diagnosed with cancer and still occasionally, people come up to me and they say, ‘Joe, there’s a reason you’re still here.’ For a while, I was wondering what the heck is this reason? What is the reason I was able to fight cancer, have the support, get through the serious parts?”
“Well, in the last couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to share my story, to be around people, to encourage people. I think this is it, to be able to share my story of cancer and to encourage, motivate and help people who have cancer. It’s happening and it’s just going to keep getting bigger and better every single day. If I can be part of that, if I can be part of the V Foundation, this is just fantastic.”
Joe’s story is a testament to game-changing research and the power of a “Don’t Give Up . . . Don’t Ever Give Up!”® mindset. As he said, “It’s crazy how something gnarly or nasty can actually lead to really good things.”
