After Leonardo Cusumano suffered a relapse of Melanoma, his family was prepared to travel to get the best treatment possible. They were shocked to find out the best care option was right in their backyard.
Leonardo Cusumano is no stranger to cancer. In 2021, he was diagnosed with retinal melanoma and spent a significant amount of time undergoing treatment in New York City. The treatment was successful, but the time he spent traveling to and from the city was emotionally and physically draining.
The family was relieved when Leonardo successfully finished treatment and only had to travel into the city for preventive scans. However, in early 2025, Leonardo’s routine imaging showed his cancer had returned and was now in his liver.
“We were shocked,” says Leonardo’s wife Anna Marie. “He had no symptoms. We would have never known if he didn’t have the scan,” she said.
Leonardo and his family were prepared to travel to New York City for treatment, but first, they wanted a second opinion. Their choice was Andrew Pecora, M.D., an oncologist at John Theurer Cancer Center. Their original oncologist expressed his full support, affirming they were going to the "right person and place."
Groundbreaking Treatment Option
Leonardo says Dr. Pecora immediately instilled a sense of confidence. He recalls him saying, "You came to the right place... I'm going to get you better."
Leonardo was diagnosed with stage IV Melanoma in his liver. Because the cancer was in both areas of his liver, Leonardo was not a candidate for surgery. Dr. Pecora says it’s not unusual for uveal melanoma to spread to the liver. “This type of cancer generally takes up residence in the liver in about 50 percent of cases,” he shared.
Until recently, there were few treatments available for uveal melanoma once it metastasized to the liver and the life expectancy once diagnosed was only a few years. However, Dr Pecora says a new therapy that John Theurer Cancer Center physicians and researchers helped develop is changing that.
“This new immunotherapy uses the patient’s own immune system to attack and destroy cancer and prolong survival,” says Dr. Pecora.
Dr. Pecora suggested that Leonardo begin infusion immunotherapy, which was a relatively new treatment at the time. The infusion is done as an outpatient once a week and is the only approved treatment shown to increase the survival rate for those with advanced uveal melanoma.
Treatment in His Own Backyard
Leonardo's treatment began on June 30, 2025. For safety precautions, his first three infusions were done at Hackensack University Medical Center. However, once his doctors were certain he could tolerate the medication without side effects, he began receiving weekly treatments at the Hackensack Meridian Health Health and Wellness Center in Paramus.The location is conveniently located just minutes from the couple’s house.
“It’s been amazing to have his treatment so close to home. The facility is brand new and beautiful, and we always feel like we are going to see family when we walk in,” says AnnaMarie.
Dr. Pecora says his goal is to ensure more people like Leonardo can receive lifesaving cancer care without having to travel very far.
“With our John Theurer Cancer Center expanding to locations across the state of New Jersey, we are increasing patient access to state-of-the-art cancer care and bringing our patients tomorrow’s medicine today,” he says.
Life Beyond Cancer
Today, Leonardo is doing well. He and AnnaMaria enjoy spending their time with their three sons and six grandchildren (soon to be seven!). The couple specifically credits Dr. Pecora and their team at John Theurer Cancer Center for their exceptional care.
“I would travel to the end of the earth to find the best care for my husband, but the fact that it’s actually right here where we live is a blessing,” says AnnaMarie.
Leonardo and AnnaMaria wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Pecora and the John Theurer Cancer Center to anyone facing a similar journey.
“I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Pecora,” says Leonardo. “He is a great doctor, and he’s saving my life,” he says.
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our expert: Andrew Pecora, M.D.
- Make an appointment online, or call 800-822-8905.
- Learn more about our cancer services.
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