Jim Giammalvo

We meet Jim over the Internet as he found Donna's site. As with all survivor's, I asked he to write his story to share with others as they come across this website. Jim's GBM & Renal Cell cancers were both primary tumors. He lives in New Bedford, MA. If, after reading his story you have any questions, please feel free to email him by clicking here. Jim's story was posted on May 18, 2002

Survivor Name: James A. Giammalvo, age 53

Wife: Sandra L. Giammalvo, age 53. Elementary School Teacher

Son: Thomas J. Giammalvo, age 27, RN working for Cross-Country TravCorps and currently assigned to Falmouth Hospital on Cape Cod.

Father: James J. Giammalvo age 75

Mother: Alice Giammalvo age 75

Brothers: Richard age 52, Paul age 51, Dennis and David twins age 45.

Diagnosis:

• April 18, 2001 – First initial symptoms of tumor: "tongue spasms". Happened while vacationing in Florida. Taken to hospital and admitted. This was worked up as cardiac and then treated as a question of allergy.
• April 18, 2001 to June 18, 2001 seizures continued to get worse with twitching in right side of face. Primary doctor made aware of symptoms.
• June18, 2001 – Focal seizure in right face at work causing spasms and moaning with each twitch. Rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital. CT and MRI ordered at St. Luke’s.
• June 19, 2001 - Met with Primary Care physician, Dr. Clinton Levin, next morning. First MRI of head indicated mass in brain and MRI of abdomen and pelvis showed mass in kidney.
• June 28, 2001 – Craniotomy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital by Dr. Peter Black.
• July 6, 2001 – Pathology meeting indicating Glioblastoma Multiforme grade IV and Renal Cell Carcinoma of right kidney.
• July 12, 2001 – Removal of right kidney Right Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma.
• July 26, 2001 to August 30,2001 – Radiation 5x/week at Hudner Oncology Center Fall River under Dr. Jason Lee.
• September 26, 2001 - Sterotactic Radio surgery (a high dose radiation) at Brigham and Women’s by Dr. Naren Ramakrishna.
• October 10, 2001 to current time - Chemotherapy by pill (Temodar). Cycle consists of 5 days on and 23 days off and to continue to October 2002. Evaluation will be done at that time as to future direction.
• Periodic MRI’s performed to monitor any further growth from lesion in the brain. Although not in remission as of yet, there has been no new growth since the initial operation.
• Dr. Fred H. Hochberg, M.D. at Massachusetts General Hospital given CAT Scans, MRI’s, entire history for a 2^nd opinion on my condition. He concurred with all that Dr. Patrick Wen and Dr. Naren Ramakrishna are currently doing and encouraged me to stay on this course.

Getting through this illness took close family and friends who never turned away. Many times with an illness of this nature some shy away. They either don’t know what to say or are feeling too sorry for you and can’t deal with their own feelings of what is happening. My family and friends were there for me since day one and are still supportive today. My wife took a leave of absence from school for the first 6 months following my surgeries. She was by my bedside for days following both of the surgeries.

My son and his fiancee lived in Los Angeles, CA for 3 years and were not yet planning to come home. They both cut their tour short to be home and support me during my illness. They also spent countless days in Boston during my surgeries. They were engaged this past Christmas season and there wedding is planned for May 2003.

I have short-term goals now and one is to be healthy and to make there wedding. I have an adopted grandchild that keeps me busy and strong. I try to walk 3 miles every other day wit my wife. I returned to work after 7 months with the Police Dept. working in the Computer Division. I have also returned to my National Guard outfit. Both are fully supportive of my condition. The Guards have me on a medical waiver so that I may attend weekly drills but I am not subject to call up at this time Upon improvement of my condition I could return to full time duty.

My pastor Monsignor Tom Harrington from Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Church has been most supportive and always there to talk to if needed. He never fails with the eye contact or the thumbs up at weekly Mass when I see him. I strongly believe in prayer not as a cure for illness but for one’s well being which I believe can contribute to making person better endure his illness just as good nutrition and exercise can do.

My son on his journey back from California stopped at the National Shrine of St. Peregrine in Chicago, IL. This is the patron Saint of those who have cancer. My son talked with the priests there, lit candles and obtained a certain holy oil to be used on those afflicted with cancer. He also obtained the Novena prayer to be prayed daily.

I remain positive and strong. I owe this to my family and friends and to myself. Every day when my two feet hit the ground I thank God and take off running.

Donna & I recently recieved the following update from Jim on July 2, 2002.

Hi Frank and Donna,

Hoping to find you in good health. A decision was made at my Tumor Board Mtg, in Boston on 6/14 for a 2nd craniotomy nearly 1 yr. to the date of my 1st. Much scar tissue was removed, some new growth was found in the scar tissue but no new tumor growth has spread to any surrounding good tissue, a good sign. And I will be coming off Temodar and changing to BNCU through infusion. I was operated on 6/24 Monday morning at Brigham and Womans, Boston and pushed to be home on Wednesday that week. I made the "Walk for Life" for the Cancer Society this past weekend. Tougher operation than last. Left much more paralyzed on right side. But GOD has chosen to keep me around, I am re-cuping well. Mainly want to keep you up on treatment. Take care and have a wnderful Fourth of July weekend. I will be enjoying Family and friends.

Jim Giammalvo jgiammalvo@attbi.com

Donna & I recently recieved this update from Jim on October 8, 2002.

Dear Frank an Donna,

My son just rushed to my place of work to show me the preliminary results of yesterdays MRI. The tumor has shrunk in size from 2.8 cm to 2.1 cm. No new or progressive lesions are identified. Thursday I am scheduled for the MRI reading at Dana Farber Institute in Boston with my Oncologist there. Hoping to find you all well.

The prayers are working.

Regards, Jim Giammalvo

jgiammalvo@attbi.com

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