Scott Newman's Cancer Treatment

On February 2, 2014, my wonderful son Scott was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He was only 24 years old and the picture of youthful health a mere month before. As you can imagine, we were all shocked, and devastated to hear that this germ cell cancer had invaded his lungs, abdomen, liver, spleen and brain, and treatment had to begin immediately. The standard protocols of 4 rounds of triple chemotherapy were commenced to kill the cancer. In between chemo cycles, the good doctors at Sloan Kettering radiated his brain. Given the invasive nature of this cancer, and the level of tumor marker present, 4 additional rounds of high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation followed, each requiring a two week hospitalization. Shortly thereafter, Scott underwent three separate surgeries,  removing the large abdominal mass, lymph nodes, testicle, spleen, gallbladder and part of his liver.

Within months, 78 pounds of weight loss ensued, coupled with such severe fatigue, it frequently prevented him from leaving the house, Despite all of this, Scott has never lost his quick wit, his sunny disposition and positive outlook. His steely determination to recover is a true lesson in courage, and a constant force that brings a smile to all of our faces. His unwavering determination and commitment to recovery has resulted in a weight gain of over 32 pounds, and daily trips to physical therapy. Despite all of the treatments above, Scott continues to receive chemotherapy treatments to keep the cancer at bay, as the standard protocols have not yet eradicated his cancer. Because he is now physically stronger, we are fortunate enough to consider options outside of the United States to obtain treatment in a facility in Germany. This approach combines typical chemotherapy in conjunction with multiple modalities to fight the cancer, and put it into remission. The institution has a long standing track record of success, and is considered to be a premier, highly respected treatment facility in Europe. But…as you can imagine, there is no insurance coverage for this option, and as such, we are looking for your help to fund Scott’s treatment. There are truly no words to express our gratitude for your help.

Forever grateful,
Cindy Newman