Craig's Story
Alex's Story
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
Ninth Annual Benefit Gala
Remember, Last Year's Event Sold Out
Craig's Story
Six days after the diagnosis, I began my treatment at the community hospital where I worked. My treatment started with traditional platinum-based chemotherapy given for five consecutive days as an outpatient in cycles every 21 days. Six weeks after commencing treatment, on my 34th birthday, a repeat CT scan showed that the first two rounds of chemotherapy had failed and that my cancer was actually spreading. After second and third opinions from the leading authorities on testicular cancer in the world, I was enrolled in an ongoing study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York involving experimental high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. Because I had failed initial therapy, I was considered "platinum refractory" which meant that the odds for my long-term survival were extremely poor. The treatment was very aggressive and the stakes were high; if this did not work, this disease was going to take my life in a matter of months.Over the next three months, I would spend one-week cycles in the hospital receiving chemotherapy around the clock and then two-week cycles at home recovering. Since the drugs destroyed my bone marrow, I was incapable of fighting off infection and therefore had to be extremely careful who I came into contact with and what I ate. At the end of each week of chemotherapy I was injected with stem cells that had been previously taken from my body. These stem cells would become new white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
The chemotherapy was exhausting and intense but more importantly, it was extraordinarily effective. By the end of June 2002, my blood tests no longer indicated the presence of cancer. However, the effects of 3 rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and 3 stem cell transplants had taken its toll on my body. My entire immune system had been medically manipulated and as a result of the chemo, I required 8 pints of blood and 3 platelet transfusions, all of which were donated by friends, family and even complete strangers who simply wanted to help. With all this behind me, I still had to undergo surgery to remove residual masses in my abdomen, liver and lungs.
While recovering from the chemo, and before undergoing the surgery, on July 10, Gail was induced so that I could be present for the birth of our daughter, Katherine Hope. A mere 36 hours later, I left Gail and my newborn daughter in their hospital room and returned to Memorial Sloan Kettering for the eighth time. During this admission, I underwent a 7-hour operation to remove what remained of the cancer from my abdomen and liver. After a six- week recovery at home, I underwent another major operation to remove residual material from both of my lungs.From the time of my diagnosis, I had been hospitalized 9 times for over 50 days in a 7-month period. It was a sad and painful year for all of my family and friends. However, no battle should be fought alone and had it not been for the love and support of those close to me, I would not be where I am today.
I am currently disease-free and have been back to work since October of 2002. Gail, Jason, Katherine and I live in Stamford, Connecticut.
