A few days after my 23rd birthday I was diagnosed with testicular cancer.  To hear this news, to say the least, was shocking.   The cancer had started in the testicle and spread to my abdomen and lungs.  The doctor explained that this type of cancer is unique in that it spreads very quickly, but if caught at an early stage, is nearly 97% curable.  So I took the news and knew it was time to start the fight.

After being diagnosed, I started my fight at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center(MSKCC) in Manhattan for treatment. At MSKCC, I was seen by Dr. George Bosl, who came highly recommended by several close family friends.  Dr. Bosl predicted that I would have to endure 4 cycles of chemotherapy followed by a lengthy surgery to remove the tumors from my lungs and abdomen. After hearing this unsettling news, my only comfort was from the optimistic outlook and positive attitude from Dr. Bosl and his entire staff.

The care I knew I was going to receive at MSKCC helped me realize that I had made the right choice in treatment facilities. One thing that I knew from the start was that I didn’t want the cancer to control my life. I understood that my life style was about to change, but I tried to keep up with my daily routine the best that I could.  I was very open and confident about what I had to do in order to beat this cancer. I followed the philosophy of having the same positive attitude that I came in contact with at my first visit at MSKCC. Not only did I gain strength from the staff at MSKCC, but also from the support of my family, especially my mother and sister, who never left my side. My support team also consisted of an enormous amount of friends who constantly thought of me.  So many called, left get well packages at our door as well as some of the warmest of wishes that anyone could ever ask for. With this amount of support, there was no way that I was going to let this cancer beat me.

At this point, it was time for me to take control of the cancer and my destiny.  My fight continued with four grueling three week cycles of chemotherapy. Week one consisted of five straight days of treatment, while weeks two and three consisted of a single day of treatment. Each treatment day was four hours long.   After my fourth cycle, my surgery was scheduled. Prior to my surgery, the doctors let me take two weeks off to unwind and relax.  I headed to Westhampton Beach to hang out with friends at their beach house.  There I condensed my summer into just a few days. Now it was time  to head back to the hospital for my surgery. 

The surgery was a ten hour procedure and about a 7 day recoup time in the hospital.  My family and friends waited the ten hours until I reached the recovery room.   I was then transported to my hospital room where I would gain my strength back.  But unknown to me, my strength had to be regained by the next morning when one of my surgeons came in and kicked me out of bed.  Dr. Burt, my thoracic specialist, made sure that I was out of my bed walking every morning. He had set a goal for me to walk a mile which consisted of 13 loops around the hospital floor.   Once I could accomplish this, I could be released from the hospital.  This would be one of the toughest miles that I have ever finished in my life.

These 13 loops are what inspired my marathon running today.  I vowed that once I beat the cancer, I would remain physically fit. I have finished two 26.2mile marathons as well as several other races.  I just celebrated my 27th birthday and have been in remission for 4 years.
 

The most important thing to know about testicular cancer (TC) is that you can check yourself for this disease.  TC is much like breast cancer in that you can perform a self-examination once a month and be able to detect any unusual lumps. During my senior year of high school I was taught, at a seminar given by Pat Dolan, the school nurse, on why and how to self examine.  If I had listened and checked myself,the cancer may not have traveled as far as it did.  The most ironic thing is that I knew about checking, but just never did it.

Currently, I speak to the senior boys at that same seminar about self- examination.

So it is my goal and the goal of Costa’s Cure to make males aware that they could avoid what I had to go through.

OUR GOAL IS FOR MEN TO BE AWARE OF SELF-EXAMINATION AND PERFORM IT ONCE A MONTH.

(In memory of Dr. Burt, whom tragically died in a motorcycle accident shortly after my surgery and Mrs. Ann Mastrogiovanni who has passed her fighting strength on to me.)