Help Frank on His Cancer Journey

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holiday season! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

As I reflect on 2023, I am still grasping with the fact that so much has changed, but I am eternally grateful to wake up each day by the grace of God.

I am still able to live independently. Though I was not someone who used tobacco and took my health and wellness seriously, I developed non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) in my left lung that metastasized to my axial and appendicular skeletal system (lower lumbar, spine and skull). I was diagnosed in November 2022. I also had lesions in my brain and evidence of a small stroke.

My treatment plan at St Luke’s and confirmed by Fox Chase consists of 10 rounds of intense radiation, one round of chemotherapy infusion, routine infusions of Zometa and continued treatment of Tagrisso, which is an immunotherapy pill that is keeping the cancer from further metastasizing. It will eventually develop resistance to the Tagrisso and then we move to stage 2 of treatment.

If you helped me in the past, your generosity was able to provide accommodating equipment, health insurance through COBRA, copays for prescriptions and other medical bills. All of your help enabled me to remain in my home and continue to live as normally as possible.

This year, I am in a similar position. I am going to be receiving my health benefits through COBRA and also paying other out of pocket expenses like prescription copays.

I have also been able to receive assistance with other costs like rent, groceries, utility bills and wholistic needs from St. Luke's Social Work/Charity Care, Sole Sistas of the Lehigh Valley and donations through St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Over the past year, I’ve been working to adjust to my new life. I was reminded of the delicate nature of my condition when I stepped/stumbled off a curb recently, without realizing it was there, and the compound pressure created a sudden and severe shooting pain throughout my spine and literally collapsed me. I dodged the proverbial bullet on that one.

Other than accidental pressure-related movement, I’ve learned that standing up too fast creates hypotension (light-headedness), lifting items over 15 pounds creates tremendous pain and can cause a compound fracture, along with jogging, hiking, jumping or biking, so they are no longer an option; wrestling with my dogs is not possible; mental recall of facts and processing information has been impacted; I’m not as sharp as I used to be; fatigue is a fixture which creates the need for a lot of sleep; and reaching, twisting, bending and squatting are painful endeavors.

I am grateful to my mom, who continues to be my primary supporter, including advocating for me when it comes to issues with coverage or coordination of care.

Based on this past year, I've estimated what I would need to sustain myself. If you would be willing to donate to my cause this year, I would be indebted and appreciative; it would go far toward securing another year of positive healthy outcomes.

I do consider myself bless by Christ to have a support system to lean into for times like this.

Please be well and have a wonderful season with those who mean the most.

With love and kindness,

Frank DiLeo

St Luke’s Hospital Article About My Condition