It’s been three months since anchor Dave Benton told viewers of Champaign, Illinois CBS affiliate WCIA that brain cancer had returned, and the diagnosis was grim–he had only a matter of months. In an interview Wednesday with WUIS radio, Benton said treatment has been exhausting, but his doctors believe it has added a few months:
“I’ve been fortunate not to have a lot of side effects so far,” he said. “I sleep a lot the week of treatment (on Tuesdays or Wednesdays every other week.) By that Thursday or Friday, I’m exhausted. I sleep all weekend long, and I kind of bounce back. What I appreciate is that I see a lot of people getting treatment when I’m getting my treatment, and some of them are facing challenges I can’t imagine.”
Benton said he plans to keep working as long as he can, because that’s just what feels right for him–and the people who’ve been in touch to say he’s encouraged them to talk about their own battles with cancer:
“I’ve (heard from) some people that it’s helped them tell their side, and the situation that they’re facing,” he said. “It has helped them to be more positive and to look forward and be grateful for the good things we have at this moment.”