The prognosis seemed pretty bleak 15 years ago when Tom Duffy, then 50 years old, sought treatment after a couple of seemingly inexplicable injuries. Tom, always healthy and robust, fractured a rib bending over the arm of an outdoor chair to pick up a fork. Then, he suffered compression fractures from a bumpy ride in a golf cart. Something was off.

He went to his local doctor in Montville who found he was anemic, and referred him to Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center. There, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer originating in the plasma cells of bone marrow. The disease is treatable but not curable, and at the time, Tom was told that his survival rate was likely five to eight years.

A Promising Clinical Trial for a Difficult Diagnosis

But Tom was in the right place at the right time, as specialists at Hackensack were using cutting-edge treatments, conducting forward-looking research and participating in promising clinical trials. The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack, the state’s largest and most comprehensive cancer care center, was built not long after his diagnosis.

Tom began his treatment in a clinical trial taking a combination of oral oncology drugs, Revlimid® (lenalidomide) and Thalomid® (thalidomide), on alternate weeks. Five months later, Tom had two autologous bone marrow transplants — an involved process where his own blood cells were harvested, frozen and returned 24-48 hours after he received high-dose chemotherapy. Each transplant required Tom to remain hospitalized for 12 days because after receiving the chemotherapy, his white blood cell count dropped to zero before regenerating. He was then placed on a maintenance program taking a low dose of Revlimid 21 days out of 28 days each month, which was later reduced to 11 pills a month (one pill every other day for three weeks). This medication, a part of Tom’s clinical trial 15 years ago, is a standard of care today. Another drip medication (Zometa®) was used to strengthen his bones.

Tom Duffy’s Healthy Future Living with Multiple Myeloma

Now 65, Tom is healthy and active. He plays golf, skis and travels with Ellen, his wife of 38 years. Tom has lived to see all three of his children (Tommy, Meghan and Elizabeth) graduate college; two have married, and he has experienced the joy of the birth of two grandchildren (Quinn and Marigold). 

“Thanks to Hackensack, I got to walk my daughter Meghan down the aisle,” he said. “I never thought I would see grandchildren, and now I’m hoping to see more!  It was all made possible by the doctors and nurses at Hackensack University Medical Center.”

Tom still takes maintenance medication for multiple myeloma and comes to John Theurer for regular checkups. He lauds the upbeat professionalism of the entire team there.  

“The level of care I receive is incredible,” he said. “I probably was cared for by more than 100 health care professionals throughout my journey, many I know by first name.”

The Dedicated Care Team at John Theurer Cancer Center

Tom first was treated by David Vesole, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, but he has also been treated by the entire multiple myeloma team, led by David Siegel, M.D. Tom gives thanks to the other specialists at John Theurer, including Noa Biran, M.D., Harsh Parmar, M.D., Pooja Phull, M.D. and Joseph Franz, M.D. Tom also gave a special shoutout to “the terrific group of nurses who have been with me on this journey, especially Linda Schmidt, RN, CNL, AGN-C, OCN and Susan Kumka, RN-BC, MSN, APN-C, and now retired Wendy Lavosky, who have been with me from the very beginning.”

“For multiple myeloma, Hackensack is the place you want to be, it’s very impressive. Its name and reputation are tremendous, and it is especially known for treatment of blood disorders,” added Tom, who makes regular monetary donations to the center. “A lot of things have been made possible for me due to the great care I’ve had all these years. I’ve been very fortunate and I don’t take it for granted. I still have a lot of life to live.”

“Generous donors such as Tom help us to enhance the patient experience and lead to more positive outcomes,” said Laura Kudlacik, RN, BSN, VP of Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center. “We are so grateful that Tom has continued his generosity towards our patients.” 

A financial services executive with almost 50 years in the business, Tom is set to retire later this summer.  

“Ellen and I are traveling the world thanks to my Hackensack multiple myeloma team. Nothing is holding me back. Please keep me going!”

To learn how you can support patients like Tom, visit Givehmh.org/JTCC.