Cole's Chemotherapy Treatment

On April 22nd, my boyfriend of three years, Cole, was diagnosed with  stage two testicular cancer, consisting of mixed nonseminomatous and seminomatous germ cell tumors. Thankfully, doctors were able to remove two cancerous masses through emergency surgery. Unfortunately, the cancer had already spread to his paraaortic lymph nodes, and will require several rounds of chemotherapy to neutralize. Please read Cole's mother's recount of the heartbreaking discoveries of that day in order to better understand he and his family's hardship:

          "Monday evening, I received a call from my son, Cole, a freshman majoring in Biology at the University at Albany. This wasn't unusual, seeing as we talk pretty much everyday. Except this time, he wasn’t calling to chat about classes or lacrosse. He was calling to tell me that he had pain in his right side above his leg, his back, and was having trouble walking. I immediately drove 2 hours to Albany, picked him up and headed to the nearest Emergency Room.
         As a nurse, I thought I was sure that he was showing early signs of appendicitis. They drew blood for labs and started an IV. Two ultrasounds were performed but neither showed any evidence of appendicitis. They had given him pain medications, fentanyl and morphine, but nothing seemed to help with the pain. I knew something was definitely wrong. I insisted they do a CAT scan hoping it would show a better image of his appendix, still believing that’s what was causing his pain. After waiting 4 long hours for those results, the ER doctor came in to discuss the findings.
           The CAT scan showed his paraaortic lymph nodes were grossly enlarged. This discovery, coupled with  elevated blood levels, lead to another ultrasound and yet another CAT scan. By this time, multiple doctors in several specialties have come to examine Cole. All while we continue to anxiously wait for some answers.
          Dr. Carnes was to deliver the devastating news. This is where his life, my life, and our families lives would dramatically change. We were told that Cole has testicular cancer which has involved his lymph nodes. I stood there next to my son as he lay in a hospital bed listening but not really hearing. Cancer? Wait, what? This has to be wrong. Not my son. My son is only 18, an award winning student, a decorated athlete, a ‘poster boy’ of health and wellness. The rawness of this news was overwhelming.
          He was immediately taken into the Operating Room for an emergency radical procedure to remove the mass tumors. However, the necrotic lymph nodes couldn’t be removed. That’s when the news got even worse. He would need three to four rounds of chemotherapy to address the lymph nodes affected. We have enlisted the help of Medical Oncologist Dr. Darren Feldman and his cancer team at Sloan Kettering in New York City who specialize in this type of cancer.

          Chemotherapy treatments are being arranged through Sloan Kettering. These treatments could potentially render him unable to have a future child of his own. He will undergo fertility preservation to increase the possibility of him having a biological child of his own. These costs are not completely covered by insurance and can be expensive given the length of cryopreservation. Almost a week has passed since that fateful day."

-Cindy Neville

    We are so grateful that the cancer was discovered before it became fatal. However, as mentioned, the road to recovery will be both extremely difficult and expensive. We humbly ask for your donations to help pay for medical bills, transportation, chemotherapy treatments, cryopreservation and other costs associated with Cole's recovery that are not covered by insurance.

All money is to cover medical expenses. Any excess money will go towards testicular cancer awareness/ recovery organizations.