Cancer Survivor Celebrates By Dancing With Doctor In La Jolla

LA JOLLA, CA – A patient celebrated beating cancer with a ballroom dance performance alongside his doctor last Sunday in La Jolla.

When Scripps Health oncologist Dr. Irene Hutchins began treating cancer patient Steve Valentine last year at Scripps Green Hospital, neither knew they shared a common bond as former national champion ballroom dancers.

Once they discovered their shared connection, Hutchins promised they would dance together after Valentine recovered from an aggressive and rapidly progressing form of lymphoma – a bedside pact she said visibly uplifted her now cancer-free patient.

“Although my proposition was 100 percent sincere, I felt worried and sad as I walked away from his room,” Hutchins recalled. “He was so ill, I wasn’t sure if he’d ever make it out of the hospital, let alone gain the strength to dance again. Many months later, when I finally saw him on the dance floor, he was full of energy and life. We were both brought to tears because it was a dream come true.”

It was a long road to recovery.

Valentine, who lives in Los Angeles, suffered from stomach problems for more than a year before he was referred to the La Jolla hospital and the cancer was detected in January 2016. By the time Valentine was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma, however, he had to have life-saving surgery.

Valentine was hospitalized due to a bowel perforation caused by lymphoma involving the intestine. His treatment involved multiple surgical procedures, several weeks of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

“I was doing everything I could to stay positive,” Valentine said.

In an effort to stay motivated during his hospital stay, Valentine displayed news clippings and other mementos from his years as a same-sex ballroom-dancing competitor. Among other titles, the lifelong dancer is a gay ballroom champion, having won gold at the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany.

“Dance has been a big part of my life,” Valentine said.

Dance has also been a big part of his doctor’s life.

Hutchins, who lives in La Jolla, started training in classical ballet at the age of 7, and switched to ballroom dancing at 13. Among her competitive titles, she placed first in the United States Dance Championships, then called the United States DanceSport Championships, in 2003.

The pair’s shared common bond came as a surprise and served as another motivational push for Valentine on his road to recovery.

“She’s an amazing doctor, she has so much compassion, and then to add a splash of sequins, spray tans and sexy costumes on top of it – it blew our minds,” Valentine said.

When he was back on his feet, Valentine began dancing socially with his doctor, and the two quickly became close friends.

They helped kick off Scripps Health’s annual observance of National Cancer Survivors Day with a special performance last Sunday at Scripps Green Hospital. Appropriately set to the song “I Will Survive,” the pair shared their special connection with loved ones and other cancer survivors in the audience.

“We have prepared this dance as a celebration of life and cancer survivorship,” Hutchins said prior to their performance. “We want to give special recognition to the team of physicians, medical support staff, friends and family who make miracles like this possible.”

As part of Scripps Health's 26th annual observance of National Cancer Survivors Day, the health care system will continue its free public celebrations throughout the month of June for local cancer survivors, families, friends and the community.

Events include inspirational stories of survival, presentations on advances in cancer treatment and research, entertainment and opportunities to connect with caregivers and fellow survivors.

“It was the perfect storm of care, and it all came together, I think, for me to live on and do what I do best,” Valentine said about his journey.

“It’s the best gold medal I could ever win – being free of cancer.”

Top photo: Steve Valentine and Dr. Irene Hutchins / credit Scripps Health