Support Steve's Cancer Fight
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We are saddened to share that our brother Steve Minkin - a young, loving husband and father of 10 year old twin girls - has recently been diagnosed with a very serious, very rare, and very aggressive form of urological cancer. Only 1300 men worldwide have ever been diagnosed with this cancer, and Steve is considered very young (only 40 years old) to have it.
Due to the aggressive nature of the cancer, Steve is beginning immediate treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He will undergo at least 4 rounds of chemotherapy treatment - a version of chemo so intense that he can only go in once a month and has to stay in the hospital for about 4 days each time to be closely monitored. After the chemo, he will need another major surgery (he has had two already since December 2017), and then be re-evaluated.
Unfortunately, Steve's journey could have been much easier if this cancer was caught earlier. Several times over the past 20 years, Steve had been diagnosed with a different, much more minor condition that needed no immediate treatment. However, what he did not know, was that he was actually living with BXO, a pre-cancerous condition.
After things seemed to worsen this winter, Steve underwent a major surgery in December 2017 that was expected to easily fix things. Unfortunately (yet, fortunately at the same time) his new doctor decided to look further into the situation (even then still thinking his chances of cancer were very low).
When the pathology reports came back positive for cancer, doctors still thought one more surgery would easily remove all of the cancerous tissue. However, this second surgery ended up being much more intensive than expected, and the pathology reports again showed that the cancer had spread to surrounding soft tissues and that there were multifocal cancer cells (meaning cancer on many sides of the tissues). His PET scan also showed the cancer has also moved into a lymph node on the right side.
Despite the seriousness and rarity of his cancer, doctors are very optimistic that with the most aggressive treatment possible, his chances of a full recovery are strong. However, they were clear that if he does not accept the treatment plan - his chances to see his daughters grow up are very low.
So that is where we are trying to help - and we are asking for your support and generosity as well.
We are raising funds to help support Steve and his family (his beautiful wife Dawn, and amazing daughters Madison and Ella) through this unbelievably tough journey they are about to face. As the main source of income for his family, Steve will be out of work for about 8 months (if not longer) with very minimal income during that time (his work is mostly commission based). In addition, he does not qualify for any disability support and his insurance will barely cover any of the treatment he needs to survive.
Anyone who knows Steve, knows that he has the world's biggest heart. He truly works harder than anyone, and prides himself on being an amazing father, husband, son, brother, friend and so much more. His family and he are incredibly grateful for your support.
Any amount of money, as well as your love and prayers, truly helps, and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
Angie (Martin) Kielt and Jenny (Martin) Sheehan - Steve's sisters
We are saddened to share that our brother Steve Minkin - a young, loving husband and father of 10 year old twin girls - has recently been diagnosed with a very serious, very rare, and very aggressive form of urological cancer. Only 1300 men worldwide have ever been diagnosed with this cancer, and Steve is considered very young (only 40 years old) to have it.
Due to the aggressive nature of the cancer, Steve is beginning immediate treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He will undergo at least 4 rounds of chemotherapy treatment - a version of chemo so intense that he can only go in once a month and has to stay in the hospital for about 4 days each time to be closely monitored. After the chemo, he will need another major surgery (he has had two already since December 2017), and then be re-evaluated.
Unfortunately, Steve's journey could have been much easier if this cancer was caught earlier. Several times over the past 20 years, Steve had been diagnosed with a different, much more minor condition that needed no immediate treatment. However, what he did not know, was that he was actually living with BXO, a pre-cancerous condition.
After things seemed to worsen this winter, Steve underwent a major surgery in December 2017 that was expected to easily fix things. Unfortunately (yet, fortunately at the same time) his new doctor decided to look further into the situation (even then still thinking his chances of cancer were very low).
When the pathology reports came back positive for cancer, doctors still thought one more surgery would easily remove all of the cancerous tissue. However, this second surgery ended up being much more intensive than expected, and the pathology reports again showed that the cancer had spread to surrounding soft tissues and that there were multifocal cancer cells (meaning cancer on many sides of the tissues). His PET scan also showed the cancer has also moved into a lymph node on the right side.
Despite the seriousness and rarity of his cancer, doctors are very optimistic that with the most aggressive treatment possible, his chances of a full recovery are strong. However, they were clear that if he does not accept the treatment plan - his chances to see his daughters grow up are very low.
So that is where we are trying to help - and we are asking for your support and generosity as well.
We are raising funds to help support Steve and his family (his beautiful wife Dawn, and amazing daughters Madison and Ella) through this unbelievably tough journey they are about to face. As the main source of income for his family, Steve will be out of work for about 8 months (if not longer) with very minimal income during that time (his work is mostly commission based). In addition, he does not qualify for any disability support and his insurance will barely cover any of the treatment he needs to survive.
Anyone who knows Steve, knows that he has the world's biggest heart. He truly works harder than anyone, and prides himself on being an amazing father, husband, son, brother, friend and so much more. His family and he are incredibly grateful for your support.
Any amount of money, as well as your love and prayers, truly helps, and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
Angie (Martin) Kielt and Jenny (Martin) Sheehan - Steve's sisters
Organizer
Angie Kielt
Organizer
Lynnfield, MA
