Still Going Strong: A Cancer Survivor's Perspective

ENFIELD, CT — June 3, 2009. Eleven years ago today. At the D'Amour Center For Cancer Care in Springfield, Mass., I climbed onto the ice cold radiation table for the final time. When the session was done, the staff handed me a diploma, certifying my completion of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment. I cried.

In the decade-plus since successfully completing treatment, I have had numerous occasions to think about my life - the ups, the downs, my battle with cancer and the reasons I conquered it. For those of you who don't know me, here's the background:

In the summer of 2008, I was on top of the world. I had two wonderful children, was editor-in-chief of my hometown newspaper, was coaching high school ice hockey and had just recorded the third hole-in-one of my life (on three different golf courses, in three different decades).

Suddenly, in September of that year, everything changed. I had been experiencing increasing pain in my left leg throughout the summer, and in typical guy fashion, waited about six weeks before deciding to see a doctor.

While awaiting the test results, I was laid off from my job. A week later came the diagnosis: a form of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in my left femur. In layman's terms, cancer had eroded away some of my left thighbone.

The first step was surgery to attach 11 inches of stabilizing stainless steel to the bone. I am, to say the least, an extremely difficult patient, and Dr. Kevin Raskin and the staff at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston did a phenomenal job during my eight-day stay there.

A few days after returning home, I began suffering excruciating pain in the leg and called East Windsor Ambulance. Within an hour of arrival at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, I was in the operating room having a massive blood clot removed. When I awoke, the surgeon, Dr. Julius Brecht, told me, "That could have killed you."

After another six-day stay in the hospital, my 55 staples and I came home for good on Nov. 22, 2008, but I still had the cancer treatment to endure. Before my first chemotherapy session in early January, I had to basically learn to walk again. At just 43 years of age, I had to rely on a walker for a month, then graduated to a cane.

2009 began with three and a half months of chemo, in which I was hooked up to machines for up to nine hours at a time. In the midst of those sessions came one of the most incredible experiences of my life, when my family and the town of Enfield rallied together to hold a benefit dinner to help with my mounting medical and living expenses.

The evening of March 14, 2009 is forever etched in my memory and my heart. Guests ranging from now-Sen. Richard Blumenthal to old college friends to people I'd never heard of showed up at the Mount Carmel Hall to help in my fight. I am eternally grateful to the hundreds of people who came to my aid during my struggle.

Once chemo ended, I had a brief respite, followed by five weeks of daily radiation. Finally, the big day arrived - June 3 will forever remain etched in my fondest memories.

In 2012, I participated in my first Relay For Life Survivor Lap. Cancer survivors walk once around the track with their caregivers, and for the first time, I walked that lap holding hands with both of my children. They were only 9 and 6 when I was going through treatment, and no children - especially at that young age - should have to endure seeing a parent in that state. They were too young to really understand the possible ramifications; however, they were savvy enough to know that their dad was sick, and they did everything they could to make me feel better.

It was pouring that morning, but no amount of rain could put a damper on the outpouring of love that accompanies Relay For Life. As my kids and I circled the track with other survivors and their families, the applause of hundreds of supporters caused a flood of emotions to flow inside me.

It was because of my kids that I fought the fight against cancer. It was because of my kids that I beat it. And it was because of my kids that I have since done everything in my power to help those who are affected by this disease.

The year 2020 has been rough on everyone, including my kids. They are now 21 and almost 18, but due to circumstances beyond their control, they missed out on a lot this year. Alex's college graduation, Mia's high school graduation, prom, class outing - none of it happened the way it normally would have. However, not once did they complain - I guess they've been through a lot worse in their younger days, and they seem to have an unparalleled perspective on life priorities.

I can only hope I learn to conduct myself with the same manner and dignity as they do.