A Wisconsin doctor is gearing up for the feat of a lifetime in order to spread awareness about the most pervasive cancer impacting young men.

Dr. T. Clark Gamblin, a surgeon in Milwaukee, spoke with Fox News Digital about his upcoming participation in the World Marathon Challenge. The competition involves running seven marathons on seven continents – seven days in a row. 

The first marathon will take place in Antarctica on Jan. 31, 2025. From there, Gamblin and other participants will travel to Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; and Dubai, UAE. 

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From there, Gamblin will jet to Madrid, Spain, and Fortaleza, Brazil, before running a final race in Miami. He and his fellow marathon runners will have logged 183 miles over the course of a week.

The fast-paced nature of the competition means that it won’t exactly be a relaxing vacation for the participants.

“Over the course of the seven days, we’ll spend about 60 hours on the plane,” Gamblin said. “So it’s running, and it’s plane, and it’s running, and then it’s plane.”

“If you’re prepared and you train correctly, it’s not some Herculean feat.”

While it may seem physically impossible for a human to run seven marathons in seven consecutive days, the World Marathon Challenge has taken runners across the world for nearly a decade. Gamblin began training for the race a year ago.

“It’s a physical challenge, there’s no doubt about it, but there are much more physically demanding things that people have done,” he said. “If you’re prepared and you train correctly, it’s not some Herculean feat.”

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Gamblin has a whole team behind him. The World Marathon Challenge organization handles the logistics of all participants’ flights and hotels. A cancer surgeon, Gamblin also enlisted the help of a dietitian at his hospital to help him meet his protein and fluid goals.

He also has a physical trainer to help with injury prevention — but the person who has helped Gamblin the most, he said, is his wife.

Dr. T. Clark Gamblin spoke to Fox News Digital about his participation in the World Marathon Challenge. (Fox News Digital / Jan Gamblin, Ph.D.)

“She’s like my No. 1 cheerleader,” Gamblin said. “She’s not a big runner, but she’s a huge part of helping me get ready for this and preparing me for it.”

“But then right behind her would be my running coach, a dietitian and a physical therapist. So it does take a team to get ready for something like this.”

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Gamblin, who specializes in liver and bile duct cancer, became interested in running marathons as a medical school student. During the World Marathon Challenge, he will be running for the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. 

The cause is near to his heart, as Gamblin is a cancer survivor himself – he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018 after noticing a lump.

Gamblin has been working with a dietitian and a physical trainer to prepare for the seven-day marathon challenge. (Jan Gamblin, Ph.D.)

“I thought it was probably nothing, but I was really diligent about it and checked it out very quickly and discovered it was testicular cancer,” he explained. “And testicular cancer is the No. 1 cancer that affects males aged 15 to 45.”

One out of every 250 men will develop testicular cancer in their lifetime, according to the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation.

“I went from being a cancer surgeon and giving all this advice, to having to take the advice I had been giving and apply it in my own life,” Gamblin noted. 

“The most intriguing one is the Antarctica race … it’s going to be such a unique environment and climate to run in.”

After going through chemotherapy and two operations, he has now been cancer-free for four years.

Gamblin’s desire to spread awareness has fueled the long and arduous training he has gone through to prepare for the 168-hour-long feat. 

Despite the challenges, he said he looks forward to the simple pleasures of the race, such as getting to know his fellow runners.

Gamblin will run a marathon on every continent, including Antarctica, starting in January. (Jan Gamblin, Ph.D.)

“It’ll be such a unique group of people, too,” he said. “I’m prepared to make some lifetime friendships and hear other people’s stories.”

Gamblin is documenting his marathon journey through his Instagram account, @tclarkgamblin. He’s most excited about running through Antarctica.

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“So few people have run marathons there,” he said. “It’s going to be such a unique environment and climate to run in.”

In Miami, Gamblin will get to see his family at the finish line.

Gamblin said that he hopes his story encourages others to achieve their potential. (Jan Gamblin, Ph.D)

“I think that far too often, we don’t set our goals high enough in life,” the doctor said. “We don’t risk enough …This is a risk, it is a reach for me.”

The doctor said he aims to inspire other people to also set their sights higher than they normally would.

“Your body will in many cases do what the mind tells it to do,” Gamblin added. 

“And so I think we can challenge ourselves and push ourselves far beyond … the limits that we set.”

Your dentist may remind you to brush, floss and mouthwash – but what is the “right” order to do it?

While all steps of oral hygiene can benefit dental health, Dr. Mike Wei, DDS, of New York City, shared with Fox News Digital that he’d recommend the below order.

1. Floss

2. Brush

3. Mouthwash

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Starting with floss helps to remove food debris and plaque between the teeth and along the gumline, which a toothbrush “may not reach effectively,” according to Wei.

“By flossing first, you can dislodge particles and bacteria from these tight spaces, making it easier for the toothbrush and mouthwash to clean the remaining surfaces of your teeth,” he said.

Next, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste can help remove plaque, bacteria and food particles from the surface of the teeth, the dentist advised.

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“By brushing after flossing, you are able to remove any particles that were loosened during flossing and ensure that all visible surfaces of your teeth are thoroughly cleaned,” Wei said.

Following up with an antimicrobial mouthwash can help further kill bacteria and reduce plaque buildup.

A dentist recommended using toothpaste with silica for proper exfoliation of the teeth.  (iStock)

Mouthwashing at the end can also help freshen the breath and reach areas that brushing or flossing may have missed, Wei noted.

“Overall, following this order of flossing, brushing and using mouthwash can help to ensure a comprehensive cleaning of your teeth and gums, leading to better oral hygiene and a reduced risk of dental issues, such as cavities and gum disease,” he said.

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This recommended sequence is common practice among dental professionals to achieve optimal oral health, including reduced risk of cavities and gum disease, Wei added.

Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS, an oral health educator based in Austin, Texas, took it a step further, noting that a mouth rinse can act as a “cleanser” for the teeth before brushing.

Excessive use of mouthwash containing alcohol may lead to dry mouth and irritation, according to one expert. (iStock)

Rinsing with salt water or alternative mouthwashes like chlorine dioxide helps to remove any acidity from food and drink particles and prevent them from being brushed into the teeth, she told Fox News Digital.

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After brushing with toothpaste and “massaging” the gums with a toothbrush to stimulate circulation, then it’s time to floss, Phillips said.

Flossing after brushing “will get toothpaste between your teeth,” she cautioned.

But the expert also warned that “a lot of floss contains PFAS chemicals,” which people should avoid pushing into their gums.

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After flossing, Phillips recommends rinsing with a traditional mouthwash, which studies have shown can be “five times more effective than flossing” just by swishing it through the teeth for a few seconds.

“A lot of floss contains PFAS chemical,” which people should avoid “pushing into their gums,” one dentist advised. (iStock)

Rinsing with water, especially with natural fluoride, at the end of an oral care routine can help absorb minerals into the teeth, according to Phillips, author of the upcoming second edition of her book “Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye.”

While there are “minimal risks” to basic oral care, Wei warned that excessive use of mouthwash containing alcohol could lead to dry mouth and irritation.

“It’s important to choose products recommended by dental professionals and follow instructions for proper use,” he said.

“Remember to consult with your dentist for personalized recommendations based on your oral health needs.”

As twins and best friends, Natalie and Monica Rex had spent their entire lives together — and were looking forward to continuing those shared experiences into adulthood.

But right before college graduation eight years ago, the twins — now 30 — were shocked to discover that Natalie has Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a rare, genetic and usually fatal neurological disease that affects only 6,000 people in the U.S.

The sisters joined Fox News Digital for an on-camera interview about how the little-known disease has changed their lives — and further strengthened their unbreakable bond. (See the video at the top of this article.)

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Natalie was nearing the end of her senior year in college when she started noticing symptoms — primarily issues with her balance.

“I was doing a 5K with my college roommates, and I was just feeling super awkward and clumsy — I would hit about three miles and feel really tired,” she told Fox News Digital.

That was abnormal for Natalie, who grew up playing sports in a very athletic family.

“I knew something was off,” she said.

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After seeing multiple doctors, having her blood drawn and getting tested for vitamin deficiencies, Natalie finally saw a neurologist.

“He had seen FA before, which was such a gift, because normally the path to diagnosis — particularly for a rare disease — is much longer, and mine was a very short time frame,” she added.

The diagnosis was a lot to process for Natalie, who was three days from graduation and about to depart for a new job in New York.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t imagine what life would be without Natalie.’”

“I was trying to figure out how to get excited about life when I was experiencing everything crumbling,” she said.

“I was an emotional wreck — my whole family had never heard of FA, and we had no idea what to expect and how it would impact things.”

The twins, now age 30, were about to graduate from college when Natalie received her diagnosis. (Natalie and Monica Rex)

Monica also had a difficult time processing the news.

“It felt like our lives were going to be drastically different and also diverge quite a bit,” she told Fox News Digital during the same interview.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t imagine what life would be without Natalie.’ It was a brutal time.”

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Monica has not yet gotten tested for FA, which she said was an “intentional decision.”

“In the beginning, there would be moments where I would trip on something and would wonder if I should get tested,” she said. “But after seeing some of Natalie’s progression, I don’t think that I have FA.”

She added, “If I do have it, we’ll find out when we need to — but there’s no need to expedite that.”

What to know about FA

Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is defined as a “genetic, progressive neuromuscular disease,” according to the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance.

Initial symptoms include balance and coordination problems, which ultimately lead to a loss of mobility.

“It felt like our lives were going to be drastically different and also diverge quite a bit,” Monica (left), the twin who does not have FA, told Fox News Digital. (Natalie and Monica Rex)

Some people with FA also suffer from diabetes, scoliosis, fatigue, slurred speech, heart conditions, and vision and hearing impairment, the Alliance states.

As FA is genetic, a diagnosis is made by testing for a mutation in the gene FXN, which is responsible for causing the disease.

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Most people are diagnosed in childhood between 5 and 15 years of age, according to the Alliance, but about a quarter of people experience symptoms as adults, which is known as late-onset FA.

The disease is classified as “life-shortening,” with life expectancy typically ranging from 37 to 50 years.

“It’s brutal to watch the person you love most in the world go through something they can’t control.”

While there is not yet a cure for FA, there are medications that can help control symptoms.

Natalie has participated in clinical trials for a drug called Skyclarys (omaveloxolone), the first FDA-approved therapy designed to slow progression of the disease.

Sisterly support

After Natalie’s diagnosis, she and her twin sister moved in together in Washington, D.C.

“Monica has taken on the role of being sister, friend, roommate and caregiver,” Natalie said. 

“She wanted to stay close to help us live a very celebratory life while I’m in my more mobile years.”

“I think it’s really drawn us very close, which has been amazing,” Natalie (right) said of the twins’ experience of navigating life with FA. (Natalie and Monica Rex)

In many ways, the sisters enjoy life as they always have, hosting dinners and movie nights with friends — but in other ways, Natalie’s disease has resulted in two very different experiences for the twins.

“I think it’s really drawn us very close, which has been amazing,” Natalie said. 

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“But it’s also created a lot of moments where we have to understand that our limits and our constraints are different, and we have to work together to give each other the freedom to do things differently.”

Monica expressed her pride in her sister’s determination and tenacity as she navigates FA, including taking “agency and ownership” of her health and participating in physical therapy and personal training.

As Christians, the sisters have drawn comfort and support from their faith as they navigate the challenges of Natalie’s disease. (Natalie and Monica Rex)

“It is an incredibly unfair situation, but she is completely taking it in stride,” Monica said. 

“It’s brutal to watch the person you love most in the world go through something they can’t control that impacts every day and every moment — but we’ve just tried to take it day by day together.”

The sisters see their friendship and relationship as a “unique gift,” Monica added.

“There have been moments of tension as we figure out what it looks like to navigate this together — but we will always be there for each other, and we’ll always have each other’s backs,” she added.

“At the end of the day, we truly just want what’s best for each other.”

Leaning on faith

As Christians, the sisters have drawn comfort and support from their faith as they navigate the challenges of Natalie’s disease.

“I lean heavily into my faith to understand and process the purpose and hope that can come from a hopeless diagnosis like FA,” Natalie told Fox News Digital.

“The physical decline of Natalie’s body is a daily reminder that this world is not our home — and that one day, all things, including our bodies, will be made whole and healthy in eternity,” said Monica. (Natalie Rex)

One of Natalie’s favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 4:16, which says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

Monica added that she trusts God has a “bigger plan” for their pain. 

“We’re going to have really hard moments, but we’re doing our best to make good things come from something hard.”

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“The physical decline of Natalie’s body is a daily reminder that this world is not our home — and that one day, all things, including our bodies, will be made whole and healthy in eternity,” she said.

Despite her day-to-day struggles, Natalie strives to stay as positive as possible, focusing on “disrupting the myth that that joy can only be found in a pain-free life.”

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“Life is not going to be perfect, but we can still make it really good,” she said. 

“We’re going to have really hard moments, but we’re doing our best to make good things come from something hard.”