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Terry and Mary Latham

As a teen in Oxfordshire, England, 70 year-old Terry Latham excelled in sports. “I was tall and tough,” he recalls with a grin. “I played rugby. I was fast. I set all kinds of records. Looking back, sports saved me.”

From 1948 to 1959, Terry lived and attended school at the Kingham Hill School Orphanage, a place that valued basic survival skills. He both avoided and ended many a scrape, thanks in part to his strength and cunning. He learned that bullys were simply cowards with brawn and once he overcame his fears they were just another bump in the road.

Since childhood Terry has honed his mind and body to deal with external threats. Through his 60s and 70s, he continued to exercise with near religious devotion. Recently, Terry was introduced to a bully of another kind. One not so easy to duck, dodge or knock down.

On March 22, 2010, with a simple, yet profound, “I’m sorry” from his pulmonologist, Terry and his lovely wife, Mary, were told that he had malignant pleural mesothelioma. What began as an annoying cough worsened until it was affecting him all the time, “I sing deeply (and “beautifully” added Mary!), but started coughing on the high notes,” explained Terry. “I began feeling a lot of pressure in my chest.”

Terry initially sought treatment from his family doctor. During this time, Terry tested positive for tuberculosis. Terry’s mother had tuberculosis and spent most of her adult years living in a sanitarium. Several courses of antibiotics were prescribed, but when the cough continued to worsen, chest X-rays and CT scans lead him to consult with the pulmonologist.

Ultimately, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an internal bully that quite frankly is unphased by reason, compasssion or firepower. The Lathams fell into a state of low-grade shock. “You go totally numb, and your body doesn’t even respond,” observed Mary. Terry, however, after a brief stumble, descided to get back on his feet and into the ring. Your proverbial self made man, Terry was no stranger to hard work and mental discipline. When he came to the US in 1970, he buckled down. He wanted a car and a home. He worked 12 to 14 hours a day (mostly in construction) and he got both that car and that home in two years.

Terry was referred to oncologist, Dr. L. Stuart Nagasawa. Dr. Nagasawa advised the options which included chemotherapy and surgery. Terry had vowed, however, to never take chemotherapy. “My impression was that the treatment was worse than the disease.” He decided to explore surgery.

Dr. Nagasawa referred thoracic surgeon, Dr. Kemp Kernstine, at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte. Dr. Kernstine’s initial testing indicated that Terry’s cancer was confined to one area and had not spread to the lymph nodes, and that would make him a candidate for the radical lung removal surgery.

Dr. Kernstine candidly discussed Terry’s options, and per Terry’s recollection, said something along the lines of “If this was me and I am who I am, I would not do what I do – I would not remove a lung.” Dr. Kernstine then referred Terry to see Dr. Robert Cameron at UCLA Medical Center.

With renewed optimism, Terry consulted with Dr. Robert Cameron at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Cameron is the innovator of the lung-saving Pleurectomy/Decortication, a less radical surgical option that removes all visible tumors while sparing the underlying lung. Terry and Mary were both taken with Dr. Cameron’s thoroughness and passion. “He is amazing,” crowed Terry, “He seems to work 20 hours a day!”

The Latham’s have also appreciated Dr. Cameron’s leadership in mapping and managing Terry’s pre-surgery and post surgery care, “Dr. Cameron insisted on UCLA for surgery, and only allowed us to go to Hoag for the post radiation treatments, because the technician was trained by Dr. Cameron’s department at UCLA.”

On his darkest day, Terry with uncharacteristic melancholy beseeched one of his doctors to tell him how, precisely, in anatomic terms, how he was going to die. He hasn’t dwelled on the darkness since. Instead, he finds himself imbued with a new sense of optimism, a newfound joie de vivre, which he credits to the loving care of his wife, the skill of his doctors, and his own sense of resiliency.

But mainly he credits Mary. She’s been by his side from the start, like a rib. “A nurse will give you sympathy,” he mused, “but a wife will give you love and encouragement.” The Latham’s devotion to each other has made this equally hard on Mary, but she continues to be so proud of her husband. “Terry is a person who always sees the good in people, always gives them the benefit of the doubt, and always finds something good in them.”

Bully for you Terry Latham.

March 19, 2011

“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” - Muhammad Ali  

Bob Vitale

What’s in a name? For Bob Vitale (Vitale: Italian form of Latin Vitalis, meaning “of life; vital”), his name is the very essence of his character. At 50, a time when most folks are easing up, Bob picked up running. His running soon became a defining passion. He ran for fun, but he raced to win, garnering many awards for the 5K, 10K, half and full marathons, plus cross country. His zest for running landed him a spot on the cover of “Competitor Magazine”.   For 30 plus years, Bob has been an inspiration to his family, friends and the running world, but today, we honor him for a new race – the race against Mesothelioma. Bob is no stranger to agony. Like any competitive runner, he has had his share of aches and pains. Overtraining once brought on a severe case of sciatica. “I broke my own rule and pushed myself too hard,” remembered Bob, probably making the part up about a rule against excessive excerise. “It was so bad, I couldn’t get out of bed.”   Bob eventually eased back into training with a renewed joy in the sport. He became mindful of two kinds of pain: the kind he accepted as a “reward” for a great effort and the kind that warned of imminent physical breakdown. Recently Bob got a stark lesson in the difference between acceptable and unacceptable pain – he just finished a phase of chemotherapy, which he likened to a circle of Hell he’d rather not visit again.   Bob is a patient of Dr. Robert Cameron of UCLA Medical School. Where many surgeons might preclude a patient from major surgery simply because of his age (Bob is 81 years old), Dr. Cameron looks at both the mileage on the car as well as how it’s running. Minus his cancer, according to Dr. Cameron, Bob has the physical constitution of a robust 55 year old.   Bob’s mind continues to run, gallops, skip and jump, as well. Recently, sitting in a cramped waiting room waiting for his PET scan, Bob employed a useful trick to transcend his current unpleasant place and time. He closed his eyes and transported himself back to his favorite trails and race courses, reliving the patience, the hunt, the kick and the exhilaration of a strong finish.   “What I really liked were the cross country runs. It was great to compete against runners of all ages,” remembers Bob, who admits to taking devilish pleasure in beating up on the youngsters. “I entered my last one at 72, and although they gave us ‘seniors’ a 20 minute head start, the High School coaches were warning their young bucks to watch out for the two fast guys up ahead – including me! It felt good to be singled out as a threat against runners who were 50 years younger. I came in 10th place overall that day.”           Unfortunately, Bob’s recent hospital stay was a hard reminder of the fragility of his condition and the uncompromising ugliness of mesothelioma. With excellent care and a willful constitution, Bob was able to bounce back one more time, even exiting the hospital with a runner’s flare.           “Before he would order my discharge, the attendant, who was dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day, insisted that I pass a physical test by doing two laps around the ward. So we both started out together, me pushing one of those darn “walkers”, and keeping a nice brisk walking pace. He mentioned that he was competing in the upcoming LA Marathon, so of course I commented that I was a pretty good runner. Not sure what got into me, but I decided to give him a little test to see how fast he was. I warned him half-jokingly that I was going to ‘open it up now.’  

Bob with Carl Lewis (r)

“Next thing I knew, we were both running around the ward at a pretty good pace – I guess I was showing off,” laughed Bob. “And, about 20 minutes later this same attendant comes in and tells my daughter, Mary, that it was time for me to go, and that he didn’t care what the doctor said, cause he didn’t want to deal with me anymore. He had the LA Marathon to run and didn’t want to tire out.”   Bob is 81 years young, and up until a couple of months ago, he was running every day, working out with weights and playing golf. For now, his vigorous fitness regime is on hold, but just a few days out of the hospital, Bob found himself doing stretching exercises under a physical therapist’s direction. Old good habits die hard. Bob continues to personify his surname and wake up each day with a goal in mind.   His latest mission is to visit Yosemite. “What I’d really like to do is take 3 days and hike around Yosemite and the John Muir Trail.” Good luck Bob Vitale, the Force in you is strong.   March 25, 2011   The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” - Benjamin Mays  

Arleen and Walter Nielsen

Walter “Wally” Nielsen and his lovely wife, Arleen, sit surrounded by comfort and beauty – testaments to their hard work and creativity. A well-tended garden is a riot of spring color, but the leaden sky and cool drizzle portend another side of the Nielsens’ seemingly idyllic life.   You wouldn’t know it from his easy going manner and natural smile, but Wally is battling an insidious cancer. This diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma came as a shock to Wally, a tall, fit, active, 74 year-old lifetime nonsmoker. A passionate golfer and skier, he thought the stabbing pain in his back was due to a torn muscle and chest pains from a bout with pneumonia. A chest X-ray and subsequent CT scan revealed a pleural effusion, and a PET/CT scan a week later confirmed the presence of something amiss and nefarious.   “From this point, we were on a “fast track”,” said Wally. By December of 2010, Wally had a biopsy which confirmed the mesothelioma diagnosis. He consulted with Dr. L. Stuart Nagasawa, an oncologist, who suggested that he consult with Dr. Robert Cameron, a surgical oncologist at UCLA Medical, about the feasibility of lung-sparing surgery.   “Dr. Nagasawa told me that I was very strong, my breathing test was off the chart, and that although not everyone can be a candidate for this surgery, he believed I could tolerate it and benefit from it,” Wally recalled with a sigh of relief.   On January 24, 2011, Dr. Cameron operated on Wally, removing all visible tumor surrounding the lung. Not surprisingly, Wally agreed to attack his mesothelioma aggressively. The words “I can’t” simply do not exist in his vocabulary. From his early days in South Beloit, Illinois, to a successful banking career in Southern California, Wally has charted a course that shunned the easy path for the more difficult but more rewarding high road.   In South Beloit, Wally spent his formative years working in the family business and developing a steadfast work ethic from an early age. The Nielsen family lived near a municipal airport and Wally became fascinated with flying, working hard to eventually obtain a private pilot’s license. When he was drafted for military service he continued his interest in airplanes by enrolling in the Navy’s aviation school. After completing his active duty, Wally went on to work with an engineering firm in construction.   In 1963, Wally seized another opportunity by marrying his wife, Arleen, and taking a job as a loan officer at Bank of America, permanently leaving the world of aviation and military. “I never thought I would work behind a desk,” added Wally with a shake of his head, but that “desk job” turned into a very successful and diverse career in banking, which he thoroughly enjoyed until his retirement in 1997.   Reflecting on their latest challenge, the Nielsens fully understand that cancer is a foe that doesn’t always respect strength, courage, compassion or the latest medical breakthroughs. Despite doing everything right, Wally laments that there “are days that it seems like it’s all just a bad dream and that I’ll wake up and it will be gone.”   The Nielsen’s are grateful for the excellent care they have received from the UCLA Medical Center – “A fantastic hospital with an incredible staff and wonderful facilities for accompanying family members.” More importantly, the Nielsen’s are committed to a full road to recovery for Wally and a return to the goals, passions, and interests that have defined his life.   April 12, 2011  

Ride with Us … Walk with Us … Join Us for a Gala Evening

and Celebration of Life

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The Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (DPCCF) is pleased to announce Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® initiative as the new presenting sponsor for the 5th Annual Dana Point Grand Prix.   Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen works with four non-profit partners - the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship – to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients, every step of the way.   This year’s Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix has chosen the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart Lung Blood Institute in Los Angeles as a recipient of this year’s proceeds.      

Here is the schedule of events!

SaturdayApril 30, 20116:00 - 8:00 pm. Breakaway From Cancer Night at the The Dana Point Yacht Club Prior to the Sunday May 1st main racing event, on Saturday April 30, the Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation hosts a charity fundraiser to benefit local and national charities, the Pacific Meso Center being one of the primary beneficiaries. The evening will consist of great food, drinks and a silent auction at a local restaurant from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.For information on how you can join in the fun, and receive FREE tickets, please click here. SundayMay 1, 2011Racing begins 7:00 am 5th Annual Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling The Dana Point Grand Prix Cycling event on Sunday, May 1 of cycling is pleased to announce the presenting sponsorship of Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® for this year’s USA Cycling NRC sanctioned event on May 1st, with proceeds to benefit the Pacific Meso Center and local charities. Click here for more. SundayMay 1, 20113:45 pm Breakaway Walk We want to honor all of those who have suffered from cancer. We ask that all cancer survivors celebrate their life and join the Breakaway Walk on Sunday, May 1st at 3:45 p.m. There will be something for everyone! Food and drinks, banner signing, T-shirts, and lots of fun for the whole family!All are invited, including doctors, cancer survivors, family members, and caregivers to join the Breakaway Walk on Sunday, May 1st and meet at 3:00 p.m. at the Cancer Survivor Tent in a Celebration of Their Life. We will walk at 3:45 p.m. in solidarity down the home stretch of the race course on Del Prado in Dana Point and cross the finish line with smiles, hugs, hope and gratitude. This is a moment you won’t forget. Bring your camera! Cancer Survivors come out to join us in the Breakaway Walk 74 Year-old Retired Banking Executive on the Fast Track for Meso TreatmentLaguna Hills, CA (4/12/11)Walter “Wally” Nielsen and his lovely wife, Arleen, sit surrounded by comfort and beauty – testaments to their hard work and creativity. A well-tended garden is a riot of spring color, but the leaden sky and cool drizzle portend another side of the Nielsens’ seemingly idyllic life. Click here for more. The Force in Bob Vitale Remains StrongRolling Hills Estates, CA (3/25/11)What’s in a name? For Bob Vitale (Vitale: Italian form of Latin Vitalis, meaning “of life; vital”), his name is the very essence of his character. At 50, a time when most folks are easing up, Bob picked up running. Click here for more. Terry Latham: A Life Spent Beating Bullies with Strength, Honor and Kindness.Dana Point, CA (3/19/11)As a teen in Oxfordshire, England, 70 year-old Terry Latham excelled in sports. “I was tall and tough,” he recalls with a grin. “I played rugby. I was fast. I set all kinds of records. Looking back, sports saved me.” Click here for more. Judge Jacob Jager: Every Crisis Presents an OpportunitySan Clemente, CA (3/10/11)It’s a beautiful day in San Clemente. The kind of day that might usually be spent fishing with the grandkids off his boat in Dana Point Harbor, but for retired Judge Jacob Jager, those boating days are on hold as he finishes his post-operative radiation treatments. Click here for more.

Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters Racing

The Pacific Meso Center is pleased and proud to be involved with the 2011 Master’s Cycling initiative, which now includes a new found focus on charitable endeavors. With the 2011 streamlined masters cycling initiative, beginning this month, we will be featuring on this site an updated link to their monthly newsletter, keeping our audience apprised of upcoming news and events throughout the year.