NJ Man With Stage Four Lung Cancer Continues To Climb Mountains

NEW EGYPT, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A man with stage four lung cancer is beating the odds by mountain climbing.

CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported Tuesday that Dave Clark, 51, of New Egypt, New Jersey, was diagnosed with incurable stage four lung cancer 14 months ago.

Statistically, Clark should be dying or even dead by now. Experts told CBS2 50 percent of people like Clark die within a year, 80 percent within two years.

Clark believes he's still alive due to sheer will and deterimination.

"I think it has everything to do with it. I really do," he told CBS2.

The former smoker has been busy climbing mountains despite continual bouts of chemotherapy, going on five mountain climbs in the last three months.

Clark even scaled a 4,100-foot summit in the Adirondacks, and is hoping to complete all 46 peaks.

Clark said he was always in good shape before his illness as he was a mountain climber for 20 years.

"I don't want to die. That's as frank as I can put it. I don't want to die yet," he told CBS2.

Clark said his inspiration is his wife, children and grandchildren.

"We look at this as a bonus," Lisa Clark, his wife, told CBS2. "Every day we are together is a bonus."

Dave Clark said that statistically he should not make it to the five-year mark, but he won't let his cancer define him.

"If there are things you love, keep doing those things as long as you can, and never, ever lose hope," he told CBS2.

Clark smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years before quitting five years ago. He is convinced his smoking caused his lung cancer.