Herndon Man Celebrates 15 Years Cancer-Free with Special Challenge

When Jeff Talberg left home in Central Michigan for northern Virginia at the age of 22, fresh out of college, he expected it to be the start of the best part of his life - embarking on a career, getting ready to settle down with his college sweetheart, and creating an exciting, new, grown-up life for himself.

He never expected it to be the start of a journey with cancer.

However, a trip to the doctor for what Talberg and his girlfriend expected to be a relatively simple hernia surgery instead brought them the grim news - the lump in his abdomen was not a hernia, but lymphoma, just below his diaphragm.

The amazing part of Talberg's story?

All of that was 15 years ago.

There are very few cancer patients who can say it's been more than 15 years since their diagnosis. Talberg knows that - and that's why he and his family are celebrating his 15-year milestone with a special goal.

Talberg underwent a rough time as his doctors treated him aggressively with five months of chemotherapy and one month of radiation, which caused him to lose all his hair, including his eyebrows, and to suffer from severe anticipatory nausea.

After getting a break over the holidays and then returning for a new biopsy, Talberg was given the news - his doctors were declaring him to officially be in remission.

Now as he comes upon his 15-year anniversary of being declared cancer-free, Talberg - who lives with his then-girlfriend-now-wife and their 3-year-old daughter in the Herndon area of Fairfax County - says he has learned never to take his condition for granted.

"While in treatment I saw others suffer far worse than myself, and it put everything in perspective," he said. "A friend of a friend, also very young, was battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and he lost the fight. Another co-worker defeated Hodgkin's lymphoma only to tragically be killed in a car accident months later."

"Both incidents deeply affected me and further drove home the point of just how fragile and uncertain life can be," he said.

Putting things even more into perspective is the fact that his father was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Talberg said he feels lucky that, thanks to his remission, "Instead of my father being strong for me, I can be strong for him; hold his hand, and help guide him through this tough journey."

Talberg's campaign

All of this is why Talberg said he was inspired to celebrate his 15-year milestone with his personal "Looking Back, Racing Forward" challenge.

His three goals for the challenge are as follows:

• Inspire cancer patients - there are 15 year survivors! Talberg said, "Hopefully, sharing my personal story of 15 years in remission from Hodgkin's Lymphoma can make a difference."

• Talberg said, "To raise an ambitious - and honestly intimidating - amount of money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to help support cancer patients and ultimately find a cure for cancer!  Afterall, someday could be today." He decided that goal should be $15,000 - which is $1,000 for each year his cancer has been in remission.

• Challenging himself to a physically daunting activity, to be determined.

So far, Talberg has raised roughly 40 percent of his goal, or a little more than $6,000 - and he's by no means stopping there. His goal is to finish up by April 30, so he is eager to spread the word so he reaches it by the end of the month, the date of his official remission.

He also currently has two corporate sponsors, NextPoint Group and Absolute Mortgage Company.

Those interested in reading more of Talberg's story or donating to his cause can do so on his website.

Do you know someone who has had Hodgkin's Lymphoma? Tell us in the comments.

Also on Herndon Patch:

• Herndon Robotics Teams Turn Out Some of the Country's Brightest Minds - and Get Your Robot Tomatoes!
• Virginia to Fund New Herndon Cybersecurity Incubator
• Remembering Herndon's History: The Crounse Family
• Herndon Mom: Youth Sports are Getting Out of Control

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