JWT - Volume II
Joe’s Wolfpack Trailblazers
May 2020
After being declared NED (No Evidence of Diease) in Feburary of 2019, I have become a bit of a arm chair advocate. With the COVID-19 outbreak, I guess that has actually become the norm for all of us.
Over the last few months I have done a couple of fundraisers, a 5K race and a virtual 5K race during the pandemic. I’m the lead administrator for ‘Man Up to Cancer - The Howling Place,’ a private Facebook group for men impacted by cancer. I have helped to bring hundreds of men into the group.
I’m hoping in the coming months to move beyond the armchair and use the Man Up To Cancer platform to build awareness in my local community. The men featured in this month’s 'Wolfpack Trailblazers' are just a few of the men in the group who are moving beyond the arm chair and doing incredible works to help others in the cancer community and beyond.
This month I’m proud to feature the works of Alex Pabon, Curtis Garbett, and Tracy Morgan. They set tremendous examples of how to give back, and how to live beyond cancer.
— Joe Bullock, lead administrator, Man Up to Cancer - The Howling Place (Also known as The Wolfpack)
Click here to jump to Volume I
Alex Pabon, The Azul Chef
ALEX PABON
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
THE AZUL CHEF
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 lean on my faith.
I knew I had to put my energy into something I love thus creating The Azul Chef. Azul meaning 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.
I hope you enjoy my page and subscribe to my YouTube Channel as I am working on getting recipes and videos up soon! Thanks for tuning into my journey and supporting me along the way.
Curtis Garbett, Crush It For Curtis Foundation
CURTIS GARBETT
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
CRUSH IT FOR CURTIS FOUNDATION
I was 38 when my symptoms started with me urinating more frequently than usual and feeling tired from time to time; however, the symptoms would come and go. In February 2015, I had a TURP, which showed Papillary urothelial carcinoma. A low-grade cancerous tumor and there did not appear to be any invasion beyond the bladder. After being hospitalized for two weeks shortly after my release, I began having regular cystoscopies and follow up visits with my urologist. For the next nine months, everything was going well. My cystoscopies were coming back all clear, and there were no signs of cancer in my bladder.
In December 2015, a CT scan showed spots that were concerning to my urologist in my lung and retroperitoneal node. My urologist then referred me to see a medical oncologist, and on December 31, 2015, I was diagnosed with Stage IV bladder cancer at the age of 39.
Over the next five months, I had an open lung biopsy to remove the lung nodules, port placement, genomic and genetic testing, and received six cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin. During this time, I would also visit Duke Cancer Institute to get established as a patient if my cancer ever returned that way, I would have more treatment options available to me. During the six cycles of chemotherapy, it was a scary time. Still, I had an excellent medical team that provided me with education and support, as well as a great support system from my family.
Once I finished chemotherapy in May 2016, my CT scans showed no evidence of disease. Over the next 11 months, I would have surveillance check-ups, which included CT scans and cystoscopies every three months, and I continued to hear great news.
In April 2017, a recent CT showed mediastinal adenopathy. I was shocked to hear this news from my oncologist. The next step was to return to Duke Cancer Institute and explore what clinical trials would be available to me. I was able to start a clinical trial in May 2017, making me the second person in the world to receive the study drug and Pembrolizumab.
As of December 2018, I was still undergoing immunotherapy and FGFR inhibitor treatment for his metastatic bladder cancer. I did particpate in a research project that incorporates cardiorespiratory fitness and strength. Exercise also affects the immune system by moving cells capable of fighting infections and cancers into the bloodstream. Further, acute exercise also redistributes blood flow to organs and reduces blood flow to the stomach. Therefore, acute exercise during infusion therapy has the potential to reduce side-effects such as nausea and fatigue and improve the effect of cancer therapies. The aim of this study is to determine if these redistribution of immune cells are similar in patients with cancer and to measure the impact of infusion therapy.
Bladder cancer treatment has been an emotional and scary time for my family and me, filled with a lot of unknowns and questions. I faced the real challenges of dealing with the diagnosis and treatment, but of course, I also worried about what would happen to my family and me, and… why did this happen to me?
I spend a lot of time learning about bladder cancer and educating myself on what I can do to continue to fight cancer. I am a huge advocate for raising awareness about bladder cancer treatments and continue to get bladder cancer out there on social media. I now pay more attention to what I am eating, what products I am using, and what I am exposed too. I also live in the moment more so now than ever. I don't stress about things, and I enjoy life as much as I can.
I was and still am lucky to have a great family support system, as well as a medical team that has been patient in answering my questions and helping me to understand my diagnosis and treatment options. My advice to newly diagnosed patients is to rely on your family and medical support system. Do not be afraid to tell your doctors and relatives what you need from them. Have discussions with your doctors and let them know you need time with them, and it is essential to have a patient-doctor relationship. Always ask as many questions as you can and make sure they have your best interests in mind all the time.
I hope to make connections with other cancer patients and make meaningful connections through this group and support others going through this insane journey known as cancer.
Curtis Garbett is the founder of the 'Crush It For Curtis Foundation'. For more information go to https://www.cifcf.org/
Tracy Morgan, ZERO Prostate Cancer Champion
TRACY MORGAN
GRAND RIDGE, ILLINOIS
ZERO PROSTATE CANCER CHAMPION
Age: 59
Married: June 14, 1981 to Bethany Ruth Benson
US Navy 1982-1989 – Naval Nuclear Reactor Operator – USS James K Polk – SSBN 645
After service I have been involved in industrial electrical/Automated systems programmer (controls engineer) and project manager. Still working.
Diagnosis on May 3, 2019 – advanced stage four prostate cancer that has metastasized to my bones. Metastatic tumors in neck, mid back, lower back, ribs, pelvic area, left femur neck and ball and right femur. This stage of prostate cancer is incurable but treatable.
Cancer was found by a MRI looking for cause of severe lower back pain, one tumor was growing inward towards my spinal cord.
10 days of radiation on lower back in May 2019 which took back pain away. Started hormonal therapy end of May 2019 and still on it today. PSA started at 294 and is currently at 0.02. 20 days of radiation on prostate in October 2019.
At present my health is good and I expect that to continue through the next year. Then everything depends on if and when the cancer becomes castration resistant. At that point I will start a different treatment. After that one I have one more treatment left I can do. All these treatments are for life extension.
ZERO – First involved with ZERO at Chicago Run/Walk on June 1, 2019 which takes place at my urology/prostate cancer center. I was the top individual fundraiser which allowed me to meet the Midwest Chapter race director Emily Byrne. We have become great friends since then. We formed our own team this year and started fundraising in February. We are over $10,800 so far this year. The fundraising for my Mohawk brought in over $2500 by itself. I became a ZERO Champion last month which makes me a leader in my community for bringing about awareness and fundraising.
ZERO - The End of Prostate Cancer
515 King Street · Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22314
P: 202-463-9455
E: info@zerocancer.org