TAMPA, Fla. -- Floyd Cook spent two decades working reconnaissance missions for the U.S. Air Force, but his biggest battle came when he was diagnosed five years ago with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
After years of chemotherapy, radiation treatments and CAR T therapy (chimeric antigen receptor therapy), Cook finally went into remission in summer 2018. But shortly after, he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Weeks after surgery, Cook will be Moffitt Cancer Center's guest of honor at its third annual Veterans Day celebration on Friday.
Jessica Schwarzkopf, a breast cancer survivor and daughter of the late Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, will present Cook with a plaque to recognize him for his service.
Gen. Schwarzkopf also beat cancer and was an advocate for early screening. He is lauded for his leadership during the Gulf War. He died in 2012 in Tampa.
Cook said he had served under Schwarzkopf at U.S. Central Command in Tampa and admired the general.
Now, Cook is in remission for lung cancer and is expected to return to Moffitt every six months for two years for follow-up visits and screenings.
The Veterans Day celebration today also includes performances by Moffitt's chorale and a presentation of the colors by Gaither High School's Junior ROTC Color Guard.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
