When he was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer a year ago, 30-year-old New Yorker Alex Niles was shocked. He had always been healthy and active, and there was no family history of the condition.
Niles joined HuffPost Live host Caroline Modarressey-Tehrani to discuss how his life changed after the diagnosis, and how he turned it into an opportunity to give back.
"It's been quite the roller coaster, but it's allowed me to really see my purpose, and see a lot of clarity in things," said Niles. "Truly, I take one day at a time."
Niles disliked having to take his shirt off during chemotherapy -- he says that it was often cold, and that it felt belittling. So he invented CureWear, a device that allows patients to keep their clothing on before they go into chemotherapy.
"It just provides that little extra feeling of support, a little extra feeling of comfort," said Niles. "It makes a big difference. It's more convenient for me, the nurses and doctors feel a little less awkward. My family and friends who join me there during treatment see me a little more comfortable, and it simply raises the whole mood and the atmosphere."
Check out the clip above, and watch the full segment on HuffPost Live.