Bloomfield Man Hits Home Run With Colon Cancer Treatment
November 13, 2024
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in October 2017 when James Morales noticed blood on his bedsheets while getting ready to play baseball in his men’s 35+ league. The then 47-year-old decided to go to the emergency room, where doctors advised him to get a colonoscopy as soon as possible. A few weeks later, he received the devastating diagnosis of stage three colon cancer.
His sister-in-law, an oncology nurse, urged him to seek care at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, and connected him with surgical oncologist Donald McCain, M.D.
“Dr. McCain asked me what I knew about the cancer,” James says. “I told him what I understood in layman's terms, and then he explained it more accurately and simply than I had. I felt very comfortable with him, so I said, ‘OK, what's the next step?’”
Less than two months after he first experienced bleeding, James underwent surgery to remove the mass, the first line of treatment for his type of cancer. Dr. McCain removed the tumor along with six-and-a-half inches of colon and 31 lymph nodes—three of which tested positive for cancer.
Chemotherapy “Cocktails” for Colon Cancer Treatment
Surgery was only the beginning of his cancer journey. In January 2018, James started chemotherapy.
“We know we improve outcomes, increase survival and decrease recurrence in stage three patients if they get chemo versus if they don't,” says medical oncologist Tracy Proverbs-Singh, M.D.
Every two weeks for six months, James visited the team at John Theurer Cancer Center for blood work, a consultation with Dr. Proverbs-Singh or a nurse practitioner, and treatment.
“Once I walked in that door, I felt like a celebrity because people treated me with the highest respect, dignity and care,” James says.
His treatment was delivered over a two-day period through a chemo port, a small device that Dr. McCain had surgically implanted into James’ chest.
“I would bring home a bag with the ‘cocktail,’ and then two days later, a visiting nurse would come in and remove everything and take away all the equipment. And then I would do it again two weeks later,” says James.
Colon Cancer Chemotherapy Recovery
For the first few days following each treatment, James felt weak and tired, but he tried to stay positive and as active as possible.
“There's about a three-and-a-half mile loop around my neighborhood and I would walk that every day. It helped me stay in shape and focused,” he says.
By the week after treatment, his energy would return and he was able to do more. “I’d throw a baseball around a bit, maybe lightly jog when I could; I’d even go to the baseball field and help out with coaching,” says James. He was officially back in the lineup just a few months after his last chemo session.
“He did really well with treatment,” Dr. Proverbs-Singh says. “People who exercise have less chemo-related fatigue, and people who hydrate have less symptoms. He listened to his team—the nutritionist, the nurses and myself—about the complimentary things he could do to help him tolerate the aggressive treatment.”
After five years of active surveillance, regular blood work and colonoscopies—and no evidence of disease—James has “graduated” and only needs check-ups with Dr. Proverbs-Singh every three to five years. “That was a wonderful moment; I almost cried when she told me,” he says.
And while he’s thrilled to no longer need treatment or regular testing, he’s no stranger to the team at John Theurer. “I still go into the hospital every couple of months to bring a big bag of candy for the nurses in the infusion room and to say hi to Dr. Proverbs-Singh,” says James.
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our sources: Donald McCain, M.D. and Tracy Proverbs-Singh, M.D.
- To make an appointment with an oncologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about cancer care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
- Schedule a cancer screening near you.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
