Andy’s Story
The story of our cause
Andy’s dream of a kidney cancer free future…
Andy was a family man first, a successful engineer second. He was married to the love of his life, Joann, for over 30 years. Together they have two children, Brian, along with wife, Melissa, and grand-daughter, Emmie, and Megan, along with husband, Matt, and grandchildren, Theodore and Olivia.
He had a passion for traveling, the Jersey shore, making memories with family, and Philadelphia sports.
Andy’s journey with kidney cancer began in 2003 when he was 42 years old. While traveling for work he had urinary symptoms and after speaking with his physician, was told to come home and go to the emergency room. That evening, Andy was told he had a 15cm mass on his right kidney. He underwent a radical nephrectomy (removal of his kidney) and was fortunate to have disease contained to his kidney. His original pathology was clear cell carcinoma, T3N0M0.
Andy did all the right things following his diagnosis - he rested and recovered, he worked to improve his health each day, and most importantly, he enjoyed his life to the fullest! Andy continued with screening measures and opted to continue chest x-rays, even past the recommended follow-up of 10 years.
11 years later, Andy received the dreaded call. They discovered a 4cm mass in his right lung, likely to be metastatic kidney cancer.
Ever thankful for the relationships our family had with Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute, Andy received prompt evaluation by Dr. Suresh Nair. Because he had one solitary met, he underwent a thoracotomy/lobectomy and had a portion of his lung removed.
Our family traveled to multiple major cancer institutes across the East Coast for second opinions including Fox Chase, University of Pennsylvania, NIH, and the Cleveland Clinic. The outcome from each visit was the same - you should enroll in a clinical trial (which we luckily had right in our backyard!) at Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute. The trial utilized a new concept called Immunotherapy. Andy enrolled and was randomized to Sutent, an oral agent known as a TKI. We were always very grateful that he could continue to receive treatment so close to home.
Andy never really complained about having cancer. He took each day in stride and tried to understand the science behind the disease and treatment options. HIs only complaint was the lack of support groups in the Lehigh Valley area when it came to treatment discussions with other patients. There were many support groups for emotional and mental health and wellbeing, but Andy was searching for a group where patients could share their stories, treatments, latest trials, and what worked for them. He joined an online group called Smart Patients and traveled to Philadelphia to meet other patients. Our foundation is passionate about keeping our funds local to the Greater Lehigh Valley area so that other patients do not have to travel to feel supported in this way.
As Andy began to understand more of the disease process, he also realized many patients do not. He became an advocate for various organizations including the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the largest and most prestigious American oncology group. His goal was to attend conferences as a patient and turn the information coming out of that conference into materials that patients could easily understand and identify with.
Even though Andy’s cancer laid dormant for many years “the first time around”, it was fast and furious when it decided to return. Andy quickly had spread of his disease to his lymph nodes, bone, brain, and sole kidney. He was taken off the trial and began compassionate use nivolumab, the immunotherapy drug. He had quite a few immunotherapy side effects but generally felt well. Once again, his cancer progressed and he was put back on various types of oral agents. He put his body through all types of grueling treatments to buy our family a little more time to create memories together - radiation, gamma knife brain radiosurgery, a metal rod put into his femur for bone mets, and eventually dialysis.
Andy passed away peacefully on January 31, 2016. Prior to his passing our family enjoyed many memories at the beach and an amazing two week trip exploring Italy! Andy would be happy to know the trial he was a part of led to a new drug regimen and first checkpoint inhibitor approved as a first line treatment option for many kidney cancer patients today.
His final wish was a foundation be started by our family to continue to bring research, education, and advocacy to the local kidney cancer community.
Our family and foundation work diligently each year to make his wish a reality.
