STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Two Staten Island cancer patients took part in the borough’s Northwell Health Walk on Sunday in Midland Beach to help support fundraising efforts for the new cancer center at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH).
Two patient representatives — 4-year-old, Carmelo Carrozza Jr. and Jessica Malloy, who is also an oncology nurse — participated in the event.
The Northwell Health Walk is all about being active, celebrating fundraising achievements, and connecting with fellow walkers. This year, a hybrid walk was held, which means walkers were able to choose to be in-person or virtual. There was an inspiring opening ceremony, a presentation from the Staten Island Zoo, face painting and balloon animals, Zumba dancing, food options from Panera Bread and much more.
More than $90,000 has been raised as part of the Staten Island Northwell Health Walk — from 325 participants and 25 teams. The funds will go toward the new Florina Cancer Center at Staten Island University Hospital, bringing comprehensive cancer care to patients on Staten Island.
According to Northwell, approximately 30,000 hematology/oncology patients are diagnosed and treated at SIUH every year, making it one of the largest cancer programs in New York. With support from the walk, the new Florina Cancer Center will become an all-inclusive facility.
THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE
Carmelo hurt his ankle while playing in June 2020. Concerned by his pain, his parents brought him to SIUH, where they discovered that the 4-year-old was suffering from petechial hemorrhaging, an abnormal bleeding under the skin from broken capillaries (tiny blood vessels). Within 24 hours, the condition had escalated, SIUH stated.
After further examination and several blood tests, Carmelo was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a form of cancer of the blood cells.
He immediately began treatment at the Florina Cancer Center.
After the initial months of chemotherapy, he still had a small amount of measurable disease. Dr. Eleny Romanos-Sirakis opted to add a course of blinatumomab (provided in a fusion pump) to his regimen to decrease the presence of disease further, in addition to standard chemotherapy, according to SIUH.
The medication, according to Romanos-Sirakis, has been beneficial when used prior to transplant in pediatric oncology patients who have relapsed or refractory disease. It is currently being studied as part of a clinical trial in combination with standard chemotherapy during early treatment to examine the benefits.
While Carmelo isn’t enrolled in the trial, the medication is approved for use in patients who have a small amount of measurable leukemia still present after initial standard treatment, according to SIUH.
That method was highly beneficial in his case. Carmelo is continuing standard chemotherapy, but is now in remission. He will be participating in the upcoming season of T-ball.
“It has been a very scary road with some up’s and down’s, but we are happy with the care he’s receiving under Dr. Eleny Romanos-Sirakis,” said Carmelo’s father, Carmelo Carrozza Sr.
MALLOY’S JOURNEY
In August 2019, at the age of 45, Malloy was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph node involvement. Invasive ductal carcinoma is a cancer that has spread through the wall of the milk duct and has begun to invade the tissues of the breast.
According to SIUH, the nurse struggled at first, unsure what to tell her patients or how to approach them.
“If my hair wouldn’t fall out, then no one needed to know,” she tearfully explained.
She worked throughout all of her chemotherapy treatments, as she said it helped keep her brain busy. And her patients truly loved to speak with Malloy.
During the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020, Malloy went in for a double mastectomy. Following her surgery, she began radiation and was ready to get back to her patients. But the coronavirus stormed through the hospital, and she was encouraged by co-workers, doctors and leadership to take time to recuperate and stay safe.
Months later, she was happily back on the floor with patients and continues to do well today, according to SIUH.
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