Michael was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2016 after a routine colonoscopy. He is in a clinical trial that has included surgery and chemotherapy and is still in treatment. Michael works for the US Postal Office and enjoys carpentry.

Donnamarie was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2016. Her treatment has included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Donnamarie’s doctor, Dr. Erica Mayer, is the daughter of her husband’s doctor, Dr. Bob Mayer treats Michael and Mayer’s daughter, Dr. Erica Mayer, a breast oncologist in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancer at Dana-Farber, is treating Donnamarie.

Dr. Mayer can talk about the advances made in colo-rectal cancer and the importance of men and women getting screened for this, as if caught early, it’s a very curable disease. He’s been on staff at Dana-Farber since 1974.  Besides his faculty leadership position, he continues to treat patients for gastrointestinal cancer, specializing in colon cancer.