Life can be full of unexpected situations. One day, everything seems normal, and we're just going about our daily routines without a care in the world. We often get so caught up in these routines that we never stop to think about what we would do if our world was suddenly turned upside down and the life we're used to living spiraled out of our control. When these unexpected events do occur, we are faced with either being consumed by the situation or finding the strength to keep living.
A cancer diagnosis – one of the most unexpected life events has the potential to take everything out of you the moment the diagnosis is delivered. At this moment, you don’t know what to think, and your worst thoughts creep in. How do you keep fighting when you don’t know how it will end?
This was the reality for Eric Marazzi, a patient at the JPS Oncology & Infusion Center (OIC). Being a hard worker all his life, he was shocked when he couldn't do the things he was used to due to an unfortunate cancer diagnosis. His battle with cancer cost him a lot. He lost everything he owned. But he didn’t give up. He weathered the storm and continuously fought with the help of his faith, family, and JPS by his side.
"When all of this started, I had no clue what was going on. All I knew was that I was experiencing major issues and a lot of pain," Marazzi said. "I was working a physically demanding job, and I had to stop about every 15 minutes to try to use the bathroom. Unfortunately, I wasn't successful because even though I felt the urge to urinate, I couldn't do so. It got pretty bad."
The pain had become so unbearable Marazzi decided to go to the emergency room. He was diagnosed with diverticulitis, a gastrointestinal disease, and was sent home with amoxicillin. However, weeks passed, and Marazzi still didn't feel right. The pain was even worse. While on his way to visit his daughter one day, he had to stop at another emergency room. This time, they conducted several tests, gave him a catheter, and recommended that he see a urologist.
“I did my best not to let this diagnosis rule my life, and now I have been allowed to serve this community. I hope others hear my story and know they can keep fighting, too.”
"I went to a urology clinic, and one of the doctors told me, 'I can just about guarantee you've got prostate cancer. You need to go get checked out,'" Marazzi said. "So, I scheduled an appointment at JPS and saw several oncologists and urologists. They discovered that I had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 21 instead of four and told me I needed surgery as soon as possible."
Marazzi was diagnosed with stage 4A prostate cancer, which meant that the cancer had spread to the nearby lymph nodes but not to other organs, like the lungs or bones.
"Eric was diagnosed with a high-risk, high-grade prostate cancer that also posed a high risk of recurrence,” said Oncologist, Muhammad Isa, MD. “The cancer had spread beyond his prostate gland and had affected some nearby structures, as well as two out of seven lymph nodes. Despite this, surgery was recommended as a curative treatment since the cancer had not spread beyond the lymph nodes, giving him a good chance of fighting the disease."
Following his diagnosis, Marazzi immediately underwent surgery to remove his prostate. The procedure ended up revealing more cancer than expected, and they had to go deeper to remove it because it had started to move towards the mouth of his bladder. As a result, the procedure was a bit more extensive than planned.
"It was a shock, and it was tough at first. After my surgery, I thought I would be back on my feet and out of bed in a couple of weeks. However, it took me about a month and a half to begin to function properly. I was still in a lot of pain," said Marazzi. "Unfortunately, during that period, I lost everything because I couldn't work and didn't receive a paycheck. However, something that kept me inspired was receiving treatment here at JPS. This place has been great."
Marazzi’s care team quickly began feeling like family. After his surgery, he began receiving radiation therapy to ensure that his body was completely cancer-free. Marazzi struggled to accept that his body needed more care. He could not return to work even post-surgery, with radiology appointments scheduled during the middle f the day.
“I had already lost everything. I was struggling financially, mentally, and physically. I just felt like I couldn’t win,” Marazzi said. “But JPS? They made this experience so much better for me. Every time I came in, they’d talk to me. They showed me they cared. This place and these people are a blessing.”
The support that Marazzi received from JPS encouraged him to keep fighting. Despite everything he lost, a cancer diagnosis, and feeling like the odds were stacked against him, he felt encouraged to keep fighting. JPS helped redirect Marazzi’s mindset from frustrated and impatient to someone to be inspired by.
“Everyone here was always transparent with me. They laid out my treatment plan and made sure I understood it. Every question I asked had a clear answer. JPS was my strength, and I knew I could always count on you all,” said Marazzi.
Marazzi continued to go through radiation treatments, growing closer and closer with the team. He felt like he was able to confide in them and discuss how difficult the emotional aspect of a cancer diagnosis had been. Though Marazzi had other personal struggles to sort through, he knew that with the care he was receiving, fighting cancer wasn’t something he had to be stressed about anymore. He was going to do it, and he was going to win.
Amid his treatment, Marazzi lost his job, his house, and most of his personal belongings. For anyone, the stress of this would be monumental. But with his newfound fighter mentality, Marazzi knew this was just another hurdle to jump over.
“I had to work for it, but so many things clicked. I put my trust in my faith, I had the support of JPS, and my sister was a huge help,” Marazzi said. “Slowly, things started to piece together. I don’t know what I would have done without JPS and the resources they gave me.”
As his life began to find its place again, Marazzi was nearing the end of his treatment. After becoming so close to the radiation team and his nurses, it was a bittersweet moment for all involved. Marazzi spent a year receiving treatment at the OIC, and it was finally time for him to ring the bell, signifying that his radiation was complete.
“Ringing the bell made me feel victorious. After everything I had gone through, there was just so much joy and relief,” Marazzi said. “Having everyone there – my friends, family, care team – meant so much to me. Ringing that bell meant that I had won. I was finally the winner.”
Marazzi is finishing his last rounds of maintenance therapy to ensure his cancer does not return. Following his battle with cancer, he has returned to work, moved into his own apartment, and is focused on rebuilding the life he wants to live. Marazzi hopes to inspire others to have the courage to do hard things.
“I did my best not to let this diagnosis rule my life, and now I have been allowed to serve this community. I hope others hear my story and know they can keep fighting, too,” Marazzi said.