Fast forward to June of 2023, and Sandford’s world is about to change again.

Three, two, one.

The door at OSF Moeller Cancer Center in Alton, Illinois, opens, and Dr. Manpreet Sandhu walks in. She tells Sanford he has cancer in his upper intestine, liver and lymph nodes. It’s in an advanced state and not curable. Devastating news for anyone.

But cancer wasn’t about to slow down the 67-year-old from Brighton, Illinois. He’s still bull riding on a senior tour during chemotherapy, making him a prime example of why staying active during cancer can help in the fight.

Jack’s journey

A Virginia native and Army veteran, Sandford came to southern Illinois around a decade ago to take a manufacturing job. He rode bulls off and on during that time, earning the nickname Sandman.

In late May of 2023, Sandford was at a rodeo and got sick.

“I was throwing up and couldn’t ride,” he recalls.

At first, he and his wife thought it was food poisoning.

“My wife cooks great food, though,” Sandford says, ruling idea one out.

Next stop: seeing a doctor.

Sandford went to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois. Providers quickly told him more advanced imaging was needed to get to the bottom of things. Then came the cancer diagnosis and a treatment plan.

“I’m here every other Monday getting chemo,” Sandford lays out matter-of-factly. “I get sick. I have my bad days and good days. It makes you irritable and hard to be around. But you just have to not really think about it that badly. You just need to keep moving forward.”

Why staying active is important

In her early visits with Sandford, Dr. Sandhu says it was clear that he wanted to stay active. It’s advice she would give anyone on a cancer journey.

“We have conversations with our patients to see where they are and what their goals are,” says Dr. Sandhu, a medical oncologist.

“Chemotherapy medicines are strong. They will make your muscles and bones weak,” she adds. “If we maintain our physical strength, we’re able to counteract those side effects better. In addition, staying active also improves immune health.”

Pursuing hobbies can also boost your mental health and bring a sense of achievement, Dr. Sandhu adds. It’s something critical during a difficult cancer fight.

“Start slow. Small steps,” Dr. Sandhu advises. “We tell our patients: one day at a time. We’re not going to look five years out. We’re going to look to tomorrow.”

For example, Dr. Sandhu sees people who are on chemotherapy and think they are too weak to exercise. She suggests starting on a pedal bike, then progressing to walking. And don’t make it a chore. Do it outside with family or friends. Find joy in the activities.

Sandford agrees, especially about having a support system. He’s lucky to have two: his family by blood and his bull riding family.

“We always take care of each other. We have a prayer service before rodeo,” Sandford says.

Ride on

Sandford is now the oldest bull rider on his senior tour. He’s had ups (placing high in competitions) and downs (a broken collarbone thanks to a mean old bull). But he’s not hanging up his jacket anytime soon.

“The man upstairs put a bump in the road for me. He didn’t tell me to quit,” he says.

Three, two, one. On to the next challenge.

Interview clips - Jack Sandford

Interview clips - Dr. Manpreet Sandhu

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Eating is a huge part of any holiday celebration or get-together. But if you’re not careful with preparation and treatment of your special feast, your party could go from festive to misery before you even get the decorations packed away and the tree taken down.

Food poisoning cases tend to increase in  November and December, because many traditional holiday foods include raw ingredients such as egg, meat or unpasteurized milk. That’s why health experts like Nicole O’Neill, a clinical dietitian for OSF HealthCare, stress the importance of playing it extra safe this time of the year.

“Make sure you’re always washing your hands before you prepare," says O'Neill. "If you can get all of your guests to wash their hands before they join the buffet line that is an excellent way to keep everyone safe. Make sure your hot foods stay hot and your cold foods stay cold. There are lots of products out there that can help you do that. Make sure you have a great thermometer. One that you use through the entire process, and make sure you clean your thermometer between different foods so you don’t accidentally cross-contaminate.”

Another important reminder is to keep all food separated. Remember to keep meat, chicken, seafood and eggs separate from other foods in your shopping cart and in the refrigerator. Store these items in containers or plastic bags to ensure their juices won’t leak or drip onto other foods.

“You don’t want to ever mix things," says O'Neill. "In your refrigerator all your meat should be on the bottom and away from everything else. Your fruits and vegetables should be separate too. You don’t ever want to mix raw and ready to eat things together because that’s an easy cross-contamination. It’s easy for bacteria to move back and forth.”

Cook food thoroughly until it’s done. A food thermometer is a helpful instrument that helps determine that the meat, chicken or seafood is properly cooked to a safe internal temperature.

O’Neill says bacteria can grow quickly in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F. Perishable foods should be refrigerated within two hours of preparation or serving.

“Make sure you cook your food properly to the right temperature; there are a lot of charts out there, or you can buy magnets to put on your fridge," says O'Neill. "Certain meats should be cooked to a certain temperature, which means you have to have a thermometer. There are many versions. Some you can leave in the meat or in the oven. As you cook – you pull the thermometer out and you’re good to go.”

And who doesn’t love a nibble of raw cookie dough or batter? If you do, O’Neill says to walk away. Dough for cookies, cakes, pies and other treats is made with eggs or flour that can contain E. coli and Salmonella. If you simply can’t resist, shop for edible cookie dough that uses pasteurized eggs or no eggs. Pay attention to labels.

The bottom line, O’Neill says, is to take the extra steps to ensure your meal or appetizers doesn’t leave your guests feeling blue this holiday season. After all, no one wants a gift that keeps on giving.

“Everyone needs to be super safe especially if you are going to have other people in your home. You have to, that’s all there is to it.”

For more information on food safety, visit OSF HealthCare.

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