Help George Tziokas Beat Cancer

After being cancer free for 5 years, George’s scans found a mass on his lung. A metastasis from his original cancer: anaplastic thyroid cancer. When we got this news, we were devastated of course, but if you know George, you know that he is a fighter. He's beaten this cancer once before in 2015 and he was determined to do it again. He had surgery to remove the spot and for the next 2 years, his oncology team at MSK watched him closely.

In April 2022 we bought our first home and we’re eager to start wedding planning. 3 weeks later George’s scans showed a new tumor on his lung. This one is in a pretty tricky spot. To remove it meant losing his whole left lung. George’s oncology team put their heads together and saw that a second option of chemo and radiation was possible.

Since June of 2022 life has been a blur. Radiation. Chemo. 2 hour round trips back and forth to New York City. Experimental drugs. All this time George has kept up his brave face and been nothing but positive. The only thing we are focused on is getting George back into remission.

We’ve hit some setbacks here and there and had to change medication and treatments but until the end of January things have been going mostly in the right direction. George was in the ICU for 10 days when Eleni brought him in for a high fever. Diagnosed with post obstructive pneumonia from the necrotic tumor left over after radiation. George was home for a week, back with his GiGi girl who he missed so much! George and Eleni rescued GiGi from a bad situation in August 2022. She and George are kindred spirits, both needed each other more than either knew.

But, unfortunately, late Wednesday night George spiked a fever and we found ourselves in the hospital again.

We want George to be comfortable and have one less thing to worry about in terms of finances and expenses. As a member of the Greek community and a huge sports lover, we're asking for any help you can give us at this time as we try to support George with all his medical expenses and the cost-of-living expenses that come with this diagnosis. And if you can also share any encouraging messages, please do so as they help lift George's spirits.

To know George is to love George. He's a beloved fiance, son, brother, uncle, coworker, sports lover, and community member who always has a kind word to say or a strong opinion to share about sports. He just celebrated his 42nd birthday. We love him dearly and want him to know how much he is loved.

*Please note: This is Maria, George's first cousin, setting this account up on the technical end on his and Eleni's behalf. All donations are going directly to George and Eleni.