Mark's Continuing Fight with Colon Cancer

Hi everyone. My name is Daniela and I'm trying to help my good friend Mark raise money to pay his everyday bills along with his medical bills. Mark and I met at Cazenovia College in the late 90s and have been friends for over 25 years. He would do anything for anyone and now he needs our help.

On April 28, 2022 Mark was having severe abdominal pain. He went to Well Now and was rushed to the hospital. He had a CAT scan and within 2 hours was in emergency surgery for a perforated colon. The doctors found a large mass, about the size of a tennis ball. That mass was blocking the entire passageway of the colon, so he had to have an ileostomy put in at that time. The doctors deemed it a tumor, but due to the size of the mass, they were unable to do a colonoscopy.

Mark needed time to heal before going in for a second surgery. During this time Mark also lost his job. He went without a paycheck for a couple of months before starting his new job. Then, on October 28, 2022, he went in for a second surgery to remove the tumor and an ostomy was also added. At that time he was diagnosed with Stage 3B colon cancer. He again was out of work for a couple of months He started chemotherapy in January of 2023 and went through 12 rounds of Folfox over 24 weeks.

About 4 months later, Mark met with his colorectal doctor to discuss the two ostomy reversals. His doctor ordered CAT scans to be done, and they revealed that there was another mass growing in his lower inner pelvis. After a failed biopsy, his team of doctors referred him for HIPEC surgery. Based on his age and ability to handle the surgery, he was sent to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY.

He traveled to Buffalo in December 2023 and was scheduled for exploratory surgery on January 12, 2024, with the possibility of CRS/HYPEC surgery. Per the doctors at Roswell, he had a highly successful CRS. However, after 12+ hours of surgery, they were unable to do the HYPEC portion of the surgery.

[CRS involves the surgical excision of all intra-abdominal macroscopic disease. HIPEC provides the cytotoxic effect of hyperthermia as well as regional dose intensification through chemoperfusion to treat the remaining microscopic disease within the abdominal cavity.]

While in surgery, they found multiple areas where the cancer had spread. They worked tirelessly to physically remove what they could. There was so much cancer, that they had to close the 2 previous ostomies and add a new one. They also had to replace the interior lining of the abdominal wall with mesh, from an organ donor, due to the amount of cancer growth. His gallbladder was removed at that time as well. Overall, there were about 17 items addressed during this surgery, recalssifying him to stage 4B .

Next came the recovery process. Mark's initial stay was 12 days. His post-op included ICU, IMCU, and other areas of the hospital. His providers tried to get him admitted to a short-term rehab facility in the Syracuse are, but he was denied. He was sent home.... alone. Upon returning home, he had many stuggles, starting with a burst pipe that disabled his downstairs bathroom. Luckily, his neighbor was able to help him get that repaired. He had trouble with his new ostomy, was in pain, and was incapable of performing day-to-day tasks. He was forced to call his providers at Roswell. Since no rehab facilities in the Syracuse area would accept him, they readmitted him in an effort to find a facility to accept him in the Buffalo area. He was denied again and had a second hospital stay of 5 additional days.

He returned home a second time and was granted wound care at home 3 times per week. He has been back and forth to Roswell multiple times in the last few months. He was on a wound vac system for 9 weeks that was recently replaced by a dry bandage system. He has also had some healing issues.

Mark has started on his road to recovery, but still has a very long road ahead. He has been out of work since January, and is planning to return, but does not know when that will be. He will eventually need additional rounds of chemo treatments, but cannot start them until he is healed enough, and has the doctor's approval to move forward.

Mark has had a few wonderful friends who check in on him. They take him to and from appointments, stay for days at a time to help with everyday tasks, shovel the driveway, cook, get prescriptions, bring food, do laundry, etc. whom he would like to thank fiercely. He is also appreciative to all the organ and blood donors, as he has needed both. Mark has his usual phenomenal sense of humor and is staying optimistic in spite of the obstacles ahead. He is thankful for everyone who has reached out to him with inspiration and support. As I sit here next to my friend, I am thankful for the doctors, the technology, the science, and my friend Mark. May the force be with you, buddy.