Staying in the Game After a Cancer Diagnosis

How a man called Moose navigated treatment delays, a heart attack, and personal loss while receiving care far from home.

For Daniel Clay “Moose” Pearce II, life often seems like a baseball game. So, when he was diagnosed with oropharyngeal (throat) cancer in November 2022, his first instinct was to summon the motivation and determination that got him through so many games on the field in his younger years.

“I grew up on a ball field," said Moose, a local sports radio host in the small town of Leroy, Alabama. "My dad was a coach. He coached me, and after that, I coached my son. Sports and coaching have always been part of my family, so when things get hard, that’s naturally what I go back to.”

In late 2022, at age 59, Moose went to see his doctor after a marble-sized lump had formed near his neck. An ultrasound raised immediate concern, and he was quickly referred for a biopsy.

Moose was diagnosed with early-stage squamous cell oropharyngeal cancer, a type of head and neck cancer. It starts in the flat, thin cells in the middle section of the throat.

“When I heard it was cancer, I was overwhelmed, numb, and shocked,” Moose said. “The first thing I thought was, ‘I’ve got to tell my family.’ That was hard. But that made it real.”

A cancer linked to HPV

Moose's cancer cells came back as p16-positive, meaning his cancer was linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus most people are exposed to at some point in their lives. While many HPV infections clear on their own, certain high-risk strains are linked to most head and neck cancers, as well as cervical, anal, penile, and other cancers. These high-risk strains of HPV are known to cause about two-thirds of oropharyngeal cancers.

Health experts and researchers emphasize that many HPV-related cancers are preventable through HPV vaccination, which is widely available and recommended by leading medical organizations, including the American Cancer Society (ACS).

In fact, recent ACS research reported significant declines in cervical cancer incidence rates among younger women (ages 20-31) in the US since the HPV vaccine became available. States with higher vaccination rates saw the greatest declines.

The beginning of a difficult journey

Soon after his diagnosis, Moose faced a series of obstacles that would put his physical and emotional endurance to the test.

Imaging tests revealed that the tumor was wrapped around his carotid artery, ruling out surgery due to the risk of bleeding and stroke. And, although Moose and his doctors pushed for approval from his insurance company, the recommended photon radiation treatment option was not available and was not covered under his plan.

While he waited for news from his insurance plan, the tumor continued to grow.

“The tumor went from a marble to a gumball,” he said. “The cancer wasn’t waiting on my insurance approval.”

Moose also faced another barrier to getting treatment: the nearest cancer center was more than 150 miles from his home. This would mean frequent travel and time away from home, which would be especially hard on his family.

“There were days I felt like a bad husband and father,” Moose said. “I wasn’t there the way I wanted to be, and that was tough.”

In February 2023, four months after his diagnosis, Moose began seven weeks of chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Moose said the treatment took a severe physical toll – rapid weight loss, extreme fatigue, and intense pain while swallowing.

“Like razors in my throat,” he said.

Midway through his treatment, Moose suffered a heart attack. Suddenly, he was not only being treated for cancer, but was also recovering from a life-threatening event.

And still, life was not done piling on the challenges. Shortly after his heart attack, Moose lost his father, his lifelong role model. Daniel Clay Pearce I passed away on July 6, 2023. He was 81.

The loss compounded the emotional weight Moose was already carrying. But, once again, he placed himself on the virtual ballfield and drew on the strength and resilience that can make all the difference in a game.

"In my mind, I just had to go back to playing ball," he said. "Everybody I’ve talked to – every survivor and every patient – has something they hold on to, something that inspires them to keep going. For me, that’s sports. That mindset is what helps me keep fighting."

Hope Lodge: A home away from home

For many people with cancer who live in rural areas, traveling long distances, limited transportation options, and the need for temporary housing are among the most common barriers to timely, quality care. In Moose’s case, his treatment was daily for five days in a row, lasting several weeks. Getting to chemotherapy, regular radiation treatments, and follow‑up visits make long‑distance commuting unrealistic for many. Also, the cost of repeated travel and extended lodging can quickly become overwhelming.

Living in a rural community roughly 150 miles from the nearest cancer center created a major hurdle for Moose. Then he learned about the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge®.

Hope Lodge communities help cancer patients access the treatment they need when care is far from home. With cancer treatment plans often lasting six to eight weeks or more, travel and lodging expenses can quickly escalate. With 31 facilities nationwide, the Hope Lodge network provides free lodging for people undergoing cancer treatment. Each year, nearly 37,000 guests stay at Hope Lodge communities, totaling more than 565,000 nights of lodging.

During his seven weeks of chemotherapy and radiation at UAB, Moose was able to stay at the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge location nearby.

Being so far from home was emotionally difficult. Moose missed his wife and children and worried constantly about the responsibilities he had left behind. What he did not expect was how much the other Hope Lodge guests would lift his spirits.

“I don’t know how I would have made it without Hope Lodge,” Moose said. “We were all there for the same reason, and somehow, when we were together, it felt like none of us had cancer. Those people became family. I still talk to most of them today.”

Grateful for the support he received, Moose and his family later found a way to give back. In August 2025, they raised funds through their local farm to donate to the Hope Lodge community in Birmingham.

“I couldn’t go another day without donating,” he said. “I lived off of someone else’s donation for seven weeks.”

Loving life after treatment

Today, Moose is cancer-free. Even though he faced significant setbacks, including delayed care, severe side effects, a heart attack, profound grief, and isolation from his family during treatment, he persevered – inspired by past teammates and coaches, supported by family and caregivers, and embraced by a community of fellow patients who helped him through the hardest times.

“Slow down and tell people you appreciate them,” he said. “Appreciate what you already have. I took something negative and made it a positive. I learned that from my dad. That’s what I’m most proud of.”