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In memory of
Erik G. Magnuson
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a contribution to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation.
$230.00
contributed by 2 people
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Background
Until he experienced blood in his urine, Erik had few symptoms other than back pain. How many men in their 50s don't experience back pain and how many see a doctor about it?
Twenty-nine months ago, Erik was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma (RCC). At first we were encouraged because places like Moffitt Cancer Center have helped lead the way in new therapeutic strategies. We forged ahead with surgery to remove his kidney, hoping that following it with newly approved immunotherapy treatments would give Erik a better outlook than earlier patients.
But his pathology report contained the devastating news that he suffered from a lesser understood, poorly treatable and highly lethal form known as sarcomatoid RCC. We understood that this was a death sentence. The median survival rate was 6-13 months.
With the wonderful staff at Moffitt we began treatment to boost his own immune system to fight his cancer. Only to have it almost kill him. An allergic reaction by his immune system caused heart, lung and muscle inflammation. Like the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld, no more immunotherapy "soup" cocktails for Erik.
But the wonderful staff at Moffitt did not give up. The cancer spread to his liver and an interventional radiologist injected tiny beads containing a radioactive material into a blood vessel leading to the tumor. The injected beads are less that the width of a human hair. Sounds like science fiction, but it worked and was minimally invasive too. The procedure blocked the supply of blood that his cancer needed to spur its growth and spared normal tissue in the liver. Regular radiation often destroys both the bad cells and the functioning cells in a liver. Another success for the great people at Moffitt.
Our doctor started a series of targeted therapies for Erik. They focus on the gene mutations that cause cancer to reproduce so rapidly. Cabometyx turned his beard to Santa Claus-white, but it inhibited the relentless growth of his cancer. While the side effects made it impossible for Erik to return to work and the threat of COVID made us hermits, he LIVED for almost two years. All because of the dedicated staff at Moffitt Cancer Center.
I pray you or your loved ones never need this cancer center, but if you do, know that science fiction is becoming science fact because of the donations you give in Erik's name. And given that he insisted on wearing to the very end of his life his Star Trek "redshirt" with EXPENDABLE printed across his chest and his "If I'm Ever On Life Support, Unplug Me and Plug Me Back In To See If That Works" shirt, he would be so pleased with that as his legacy. Contribute to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation
Twenty-nine months ago, Erik was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma (RCC). At first we were encouraged because places like Moffitt Cancer Center have helped lead the way in new therapeutic strategies. We forged ahead with surgery to remove his kidney, hoping that following it with newly approved immunotherapy treatments would give Erik a better outlook than earlier patients.
But his pathology report contained the devastating news that he suffered from a lesser understood, poorly treatable and highly lethal form known as sarcomatoid RCC. We understood that this was a death sentence. The median survival rate was 6-13 months.
With the wonderful staff at Moffitt we began treatment to boost his own immune system to fight his cancer. Only to have it almost kill him. An allergic reaction by his immune system caused heart, lung and muscle inflammation. Like the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld, no more immunotherapy "soup" cocktails for Erik.
But the wonderful staff at Moffitt did not give up. The cancer spread to his liver and an interventional radiologist injected tiny beads containing a radioactive material into a blood vessel leading to the tumor. The injected beads are less that the width of a human hair. Sounds like science fiction, but it worked and was minimally invasive too. The procedure blocked the supply of blood that his cancer needed to spur its growth and spared normal tissue in the liver. Regular radiation often destroys both the bad cells and the functioning cells in a liver. Another success for the great people at Moffitt.
Our doctor started a series of targeted therapies for Erik. They focus on the gene mutations that cause cancer to reproduce so rapidly. Cabometyx turned his beard to Santa Claus-white, but it inhibited the relentless growth of his cancer. While the side effects made it impossible for Erik to return to work and the threat of COVID made us hermits, he LIVED for almost two years. All because of the dedicated staff at Moffitt Cancer Center.
I pray you or your loved ones never need this cancer center, but if you do, know that science fiction is becoming science fact because of the donations you give in Erik's name. And given that he insisted on wearing to the very end of his life his Star Trek "redshirt" with EXPENDABLE printed across his chest and his "If I'm Ever On Life Support, Unplug Me and Plug Me Back In To See If That Works" shirt, he would be so pleased with that as his legacy. Contribute to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation
Recent contributions to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation
$180.00
Oct. 8, 2022, 8:13 a.m. PDT
$50.00
Oct. 6, 2022, 12:17 p.m. PDT
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a contribution to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation.
$230.00
contributed by 2 people
Show your support:
Contribute
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Created with love by
Madeleine Dillmann (Erik's wife).
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