More than 1,200 cancer survivors, their loved ones and medical staff from across Northwell Health’s hospitals, gathered to share their personal stories of determination and hope at the 16th annual Don Monti Cancer Survivor’s Day on June 3.
Supported by the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation, the event took place under a 300-foot-long tent outside the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in Lake Success, where many of the people attending received their treatment for various types of cancer. But now, months or years later cancer survivors joined with others to celebrate life.
The community event featured keynote speaker comedian John Ziegler, 55, a stand-up comic who’s toured nationally for 15 years, and a pancreatic cancer survivor. In April 2021, Mr. Zeigler was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had a Whipple procedure, a complex surgery that treats tumors and other disorders of the pancreas, intestine and bile duct. He also underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy. Mr. Zeigler, a Lindenhurst resident, was treated at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and its outpatient cancer center.
While Mr. Zeigler was in the hospital, he started writing about his cancer journey, finding humor in his medical experiences. He wrote and later produced a 45-minute comedy special, titled “Getting My Affairs in Order,” which debuted in 2022.
Mr. Zeigler said he was glad to have the opportunity to thank his expert care team, “not seeing them in scrubs this time”—his surgeon, Matthew J. Weiss, MD, nurses and all the staff who helped him through his 60 days in the hospital and months of chemotherapy. “I’m a very lucky guy,” he said, joking, “I feel like I’ve been in a plane crash and I’m the only survivor–I want to make the most of a second chance.” Mr. Zeigler added he was diagnosed 26 months ago and is now disease-free.
Joining Mr. Zeigler on stage was Grammy-winning musician Richie Cannata of Glen Cove, best known as Billy Joel’s original saxophone player. In emotional remarks, Mr. Cannata shared his story for the first time publicly about surviving Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2017. He said he spent six months at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) receiving continuous intravenous chemotherapy. He credits his medical team and nurses for his recovery, and applauded his wife of 45 years and his sister-in-law for getting him through this grueling experience. Upon discharge he was disease-free, but the chemotherapy left him debilitated. “I couldn’t walk on my own and I was unable to use my hands. I needed to learn to write my name again and teach myself to play the sax again,” he said. With intensive physical therapy he was able to return to the stage and now tours with The Lords of 52nd Street rock band.
“Cancer doesn’t discriminate and when you get that diagnosis your life changes in an instant,” said Mr. Cannata. “For me, it starts with God, options, intelligence and the willpower to survive…it’s a continual process,” he said, adding, “I go to work, I put smiles on people’s faces for a living…I’m a humanitarian.”
Mr. Cannata was joined by keyboardist and singer-songwriter Dan Orlando on stage where together they performed the classic Billy Joel song, “New York State of Mind,” during which Mr. Cannata serenaded the audience with a captivating solo towards the end of the song, bringing the crowd to a standing ovation.
Richard Barakat, MD, physician-in-chief of Northwell Health’s Cancer Institute said, “The purpose of the event is to bring together cancer survivors, recognizing every patient has a unique journey, but they all share a common bond to lift up one other. I think we helped achieve that today with our special guests, both cancer survivors and acclaimed entertainers, tapping into their talents and the universal healing powers of music and comedy.”
Dr. Barakat noted according to the National Cancer Institute there are 18.1 million cancer survivors in the country, which is roughly five percent of the population. “Cancer survivorship starts on day one of diagnosis, and at Northwell we’re committed to improving the quality of life for people with symptoms and side effects beyond the acute phase of the disease and coordinate care for patients with other concurrent medical conditions.”
Caroline Monti Saladino said her parents established the Don Monti Cancer Memorial Research Foundation in memory of her brother, Don, who died more than 50 years earlier from acute myeloblastic leukemia.
“The message today is that this is a celebration, it is like a victory reunion; it’s hopeful and is a party,” Ms. Saladino said. “I also see courage, success—and I see my brother Don in every person here.”
Ms. Saladino also had the honor of presenting the Tita & Joseph Monti-Vincent Vinciguerra Award in Patient Care to Ruthee-Lu Bayer, MD, a Northwell expert in bone marrow/stem cell transplantation, whom Ms. Saladino has known for more than 40 years. In a poignant moment, Vincent Vinciguerra, MD, a medical oncologist at the Cancer Institute, co-presented the award, recalled treating young Don Monti at NSUH when he was a medical resident.
For more information, contact Northwell’s Cancer Institute, at 888-321-DOCS, or to access a cancer nurse navigator, call Cancer Care Direct at 833-223-4732.
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