JWT - Volume XIV
Joe’s Wolfpack Trailblazers
May 2021
For many cancer survivors, it takes time to understand how to share your cancer story and to grow as an advocate. It's not always easy to find the right fit as an advocate. Sometimes you choose to create something on your own. As for me and so many of the members of The Howling Place Group, being an advocate for our particular cancer diagnosis has given us purpose to our survivorships. I know for myself it allows me to be able to use my voice and encourage others in the fight in multiple ways.
I’m honored to share the generous works of service of the men of The Howling Place. This month I share the advocacy work of Steven Crocker, Ray Wilson, and Mark Charlie Turner. I also share the work of my late Wolfpack brother Alex Pabon, who this month won his battle with Stage IV colorectal Cancer. My personal goal is to help keep his mission alive in his honor.
— Joe Bullock, lead administrator, Man Up to Cancer - The Howling Place (Also known as The Wolfpack)
Steven Crocker
STEVEN CROCKER
VIRGINIA BEACH , VIRGINIA
TESTICULAR CANCER STAGE 2B
Hi! My name is Steven Crocker, I'm a 26-year-old testicular cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in June 2019, however I'd been having symptoms for about 2-and-a-half years prior. Late 2016 I noticed my left testicle was slowly getting larger and increasingly tender to the touch. I did some research on it but tried my best to avoid the word "cancer." It wasn't until spring 2019 that I noticed a lump in my mid-back. I knew from my hesitant research that the back (later learned about the retroperitoneum) is often where testicular cancer spreads.
May 31, 2019 I finally went to my primary doctor. She initially diagnosed it as epididymitis but referred me for an ultrasound nonetheless. Four days later I was having an ultrasound and a week after the ultrasound I was having my left testicle removed. In those 11 days between the initial doctor visit and my orchiectomy was my 25th birthday. It was determined through pathology that I did, in fact, have testicular cancer and that it had spread to my retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Follow up scans and an appointment with my then soon-to-be oncologist Dr. Mark Fleming happened before I began chemo on July 15, 2019.
My chemotherapy treatment regimen was EPx4, or 4 cycles of Etoposide and Cisplatin. I received chemo Monday through Friday, roughly five hours a day, for a total of four weeks spread out between July 15 and my last day of chemo on October 4, 2019. Throughout treatment, my HCG, LDH, and AFP (tumor markers) all normalized, however my post-chemo CT scan revealed that the affected lymph node had not swollen enough for my doctors to be content solely putting me on surveillance.
On November 5, 2019 I flew to Indiana University to meet with Dr. Clint Cary, one of the top retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) surgeons in the world. I had my consultation the next day and then had surgery on November 7. I spent 3-4 days in the hospital and then returned home. Dr. Cary called me and let me know that the affected lymph node had been pathologized as scar tissue. This means that my RPLND was technically unnecessary. There is not currently a way, however, to know if surgery is needed or not without actually doing it. I know there is some research happening to find a way to use microRNAs to prevent unnecessary surgeries, but it has not been developed enough.
I am now 1.5 years post-cancer and have made testicular cancer advocacy part of my identity. It is my goal to prevent guys from waiting as long as I did in hopes of catching abnormalities early and preventing metastasis. I now host a podcast where I've interviewed my doctors (although it's not solely a cancer podcast) and have recently joined the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation board. I hope to continue using my platforms to raise awareness of this disease and look forward to helping as many guys as I can. Anyone with any questions can reach me @stevencrocker on social media. I can also be emailed at steven@testescancer.org.
https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/
--
Steven Crocker
Producer/Host
(757) 510-5577
stevenmcrocker46@gmail.com
Lightship Productions
Dumbest in the Room
Ray Wilson
RAY WILSON
WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA
STAGE 3 RECTAL CANCER
I will again participate in the 2021 Victory Ride to Cure Cancer, a cycling event in support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
I have always enjoyed bicycling whether it be road cycling, indoor cycling, and in more recent years mountain biking. It provides a challenge, great exercise and a mental break from the world. I am a graduate of NC State University and was lucky enough to attend NCSU while Coach Jim Valvano was at the end of his coaching career and fighting his cancer battle. He is remembered for being many things: a player, a coach, a broadcaster, a brother, husband and father, a friend and more. But above all he is an inspiration. And when diagnosed with cancer at age 46, he never gave up.
In July 2020, I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. The doctors at Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center immediately and confidently laid out the clinical treatment path forward. As part of my treatment I was able to participate in a clinical trial using immunotherapy. This study was about the safety and response to the investigational drug durvalumab following chemo-radiation therapy for patients with MSS stage II to IV rectal cancer. Durvalumab recognizes specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells and triggers the immune system to destroy the cancer cells! That's badass.
I feel confident this clinical trial was an important factor in my treatment and resulted in pathological results of "pathological complete response” (a term used for the absence of all detectable cancer after surgery.) It means there were no cancer cells seen in the tumor, margins or lymph nodes. Being able to participate in a clinical trial like this is the result of donations to organizations such as the V Foundation! These donations cover the cost of research and development of such trials.
Fast forward to 2021. Cancer added a chapter in my life, but it's not the whole story. I'm winning!! In the last year I have learned a lot more about colorectal cancer than you want to know. Do you know what these words and acronyms mean? Let's just say you don't want to know! T3 MRF+ N1, radiation, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, adjuvant treatment, powerport, durvalumab, oxaliplatin, xeloda, LAR, ileostomy, CT, MRI, CIPN, HFS, CBC, CEA. The acronym I am working toward is NED (no evidence of disease). I await those words from my doctors in the near future.
As fellow North Carolinian and the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott said, "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live" ...... BOO YAH! His legacy lives on and his extraordinary impact on cancer research continues. He is another reason I participate in The Victory Ride.
Your donation toward my ride supports world-class cancer centers in North Carolina and across the U.S. Almost all of us are impacted by cancer. The Victory Ride and the V Foundation are committed to changing those numbers, and so am I! 100% of your donation goes to life-saving cancer research. Research saves lives. Please make a tax-deductible donation today!
“There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It's up to you to decide what to do with them.” - Jim Valvano
Resources -
https://fightcolorectalcancer.org
© 2021 Victory Ride to Cure Cancer
Mark Charlie Turner
MARK CHARLIE TURNER
PERTH, AUSTRALIA
TESTICULAR CANCER
Mark is a 37-year-old Englishman residing in Perth, Australia. He is tackling men’s health and cancer awareness with humour and Star Wars.
After being diagnosed with testicular cancer in February this year, Mark noticed that his use of humor as a coping mechanism also broke down barriers when conversing with others about his condition and mental health struggles.
As an avid cosplayer and Star Wars fan, Mark couldn’t resist donning his Stormtrooper armour between his orchiectomy surgery and chemo for a little tongue in cheek Public Service Announcement.
The incredible response he received to the video has encouraged Mark to take it a step further, and he is in the midst of converting a spare Stormtrooper armour into a bright yellow “Sunshine Trooper” which he will debut at Perth’s Supanova Comic Con in June. He hopes it will not only bring smiles, but will be a conversation starter with other men around their mental health.
Alex Pabon
ALEX PABON (November 26, 1984 - May 20, 2021)
FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
STAGE IV COLORECTAL CANCER
THE AZUL FOUNDATION
This month my dear friend and Wolfpack member Alex Pabon won his battle with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer. He is now an angel in heaven as he was on earth. These are some thoughts from Man Up to Cancer founder, Trevor Maxwell, about Alex's passing.
“Today we mourn the passing of our brother Alex Pabon. He was 36 years old. Love and prayers to his wife Desiree and their five children.
Alex was a highly respected private personal chef, and was active duty Army at Fort Bragg, N.C. He founded the Azul Chef business, and then the Azul Foundation. Alex devoted his life to serving God, family, community, and country.
He fought stage 4 colorectal cancer with courage, love, and his unshakable Christian faith. Through all of his treatment, even while he was personally suffering, Alex used his energy and talents to help others. As founder of the Azul Foundation, Alex created Faith Boxes, and sent them to people across the country going through chemotherapy.
In short, Alex was all heart. He loved the men of the Howling Place, and was always there to support us.
This is one of my favorite posts from Alex to the group last June: “Don’t know who needs to hear this but your situation is possible. I’m that stranger that loves you and believes in “YOU”. Be that stranger and believe in humanity, you are powerful, unique, memorable, loved, free to execute your dreams. You are stronger than you know, endure in his mighty name Jesus.”
Fly high Alex. We pick up your banner and carry it forward.”
In May 2020 Alex shared with The Trailblazer about his plans to create The Azul Chef, but he was in the midst of creating The Azul Foundation. He was just waiting for his nonprofit status. Later in 2020, while still fighting his colorectal cancer, the Azul Foundation sent out dozens of faith-based care packages to people around the world going through chemotherapy. These are the words he shared from the Trailblazer article last year.
“Hello world, my name is Alex and I created The Azul Chef for many reasons. The Azul Chef was born shortly after February 5th 2020 ... the day I learned that I had colorectal cancer. From that day on I knew my life would never be the same, however I knew it was up to me to decide how I would cope with the news. Being a 35 year old man, husband, father, and soldier, many things were running through my mind. How did this happen to me?
Those first few weeks were the worst weeks of MY LIFE. Multiple appointments with surgeons, oncologists and multiple scans, and biopsies to ultimately find out that my final diagnosis was indeed Stage IV Colorectal Cancer, and the cancer had spread to my liver. The waiting for the results took an emotional toll on me and I knew I had to trust in God and lean on my faith.
I knew I had to put my energy into something I love thus creating The Azul Chef. Azul means blue and by no means does it mean blue for sadness. The blue represents the blue colored ribbon for Colorectal Cancer Awareness. I want to bring awareness to this terrible cancer that unfortunately has found its way into my body and many others. I intend on bringing awareness by leaning on these three things I live by. Faith, Family, and Food.”
Since Alex's passing, Terrilski Davis, his friend of almost 20 years, plans on helping to keep his mission alive. I will help in any way I can to see his foundation become what he dreamed it to be. We are working on getting out the next 50 care packages sent out soon. The link to the foundation is below if you would like to be a part of Alex's mission. Alex my brother you will never be forgotten by the Wolfpack.