Christopher Martinez was determined not to let chemotherapy
interfere with his daily exercise routine. The Lompoc
firefighter started his daily six-mile run and 500 push-ups
at 4:30 am to avoid the sun, following a recommendation from his
medical oncologist and hematologist Mukul Gupta, MD. Sometimes
Christopher would run accompanied by fellow firefighters, friends or
family, but most of the time he would push through alone, wrestling
with his thoughts, fighting off nausea and fatigue. Christopher knew
this physical activity would help him tolerate the chemo, but it was
also his way of coping. “I wanted to prove to myself and others that
mentally we can get through anything in life – even cancer and a sixmonth chemo regime. I was determined to be stronger from this and
turn my cancer diagnosis into a positive,” explains Christopher.
A colon cancer diagnosis in May of 2019 came as an incredible shock
for the 44-year old in impeccable health. Unusual blood work results
discovered during an annual screening required by the Lompoc Fire
Department set in motion a series of tests. Sansum Clinic’s David
Phreaner, MD, Martinez’s primary care doctor, had given Christopher
a clean bill of health just eight months prior during a yearly
physical exam. The changed picture over a short amount of time
was puzzling. Dr. Phreaner referred Christopher to Sansum Clinic
gastroenterologist Vincent DeRosa, MD for a combined endoscopy
and colonoscopy. Those procedures and a subsequent biopsy
confirmed Christopher had stage II colon cancer. The 2018 exam
done by Dr. Phreaner would prove to be an important reference point
for Christopher’s care team in tracking how his cancer had developed
quickly with no symptoms, and in a non-smoker with no family
history of cancer – except that he was a firefighter.
The next step in Christopher’s cancer journey would require the
knowledge and skills of surgical oncologist W. Charles Conway,
MD, FACS. Dr. Conway’s attention to detail and welcoming, caring
manner put Christopher at ease and he patiently answered many
questions from Christopher’s wife, Xochitl, and sister, Laura, both
nurses at Cottage Hospital. “He listened to all of us,”
says Christopher. “It was a big weight off my shoulders.”
Dr. Conway successfully removed a large portion
of Christopher’s colon, along with 46 lymph nodes,
and predicted the firefighter’s overall health and
fitness would help him to recover well, which he did. Post-surgery,
Christopher and his family took time to choose an oncologist and
selected Dr. Mukul Gupta. Christopher appreciated the lengthy
consultation with Dr. Gupta that helped them understand all of
the important medical information and research which drove
his treatment recommendation for the oral chemotherapy drug,
Xeloda®. “I felt like he gave me the opportunity to feel empowered in
the decision-making process,” notes Christopher.
Once the treatment plan began, the personal attention from his
regular care team including nurse practitioner Erica Koeppen, DNP
and medical assistants Elizabeth Cuevas and Kathy Judy made
Christopher feel at home during his visits. Patient navigator Sam
Howland commanded logistics, which he thought especially helped
when the brain fog from chemo kicked in. “Sam’s response was
always, ‘no problem’,” he relays. Sam introduced Christopher to
the multidisciplinary approach purposely incorporated into care at
Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, and all of the people and services he could
access. Oncology nutrition dietitian Sarah Washburn, MS, RDN, CSO
outlined the symptoms he might experience from the chemotherapy,
and assisted with a personalized diet as Christopher’s sense of taste
began to change. Having lost his mother as a third grader, Christopher
battled the emotional weight of seeing his eight year-old daughter,
Luisa process his illness at the same age. Oncology social worker April
Calderon, MSW met with Luisa several times to work through the
stress of having a parent with cancer. Luisa told her father that it was
helpful to talk with someone who understood what she was going
through. “I was not going to leave my daughter. Sorry, not happening,”
Christopher reiterates with his characteristic steely resolve. “But
sometimes dealing with cancer, your kids take a lot of that brunt.
Ridley-Tree supported that aspect so I could focus on recovery.”
Christopher’s firefighter family contributed funds and placed blue
Colon Cancer Awareness stickers on their engines among many
actions to support him. But it was the department-sponsored
physical exam that saved his life. His Lompoc colleagues could not
make sense of how their “healthy hippie” – who they would tease
for his University of California, Berkeley education, choice to drive a
Prius and mainly plant-based diet – could be the one to have cancer.
Firefighters face an increased risk of cancer compared with the
general public because of their exposure to carcinogens on the job.
Today, Christopher is in remission and has returned to work, but is
now a passionate cancer awareness advocate for first responders and
the importance of annual physical exams with blood tests. He wants
other cancer patients to know if they choose Ridley-Tree Cancer Center
for their care, they are in great hands. “I got an A+ team and I am
completely blessed to have this care in my backyard. If you have cancer,
this is the perfect place. They are going to set you up for success.”
Photo caption: The Martinez Family