In 2014, I was waitressing when one of my regulars suggested I go to the doctor to have my cough checked out. I went to the doctor and found out, yes, I had a tumor, and it was cancer. My two friends came with me, and we stood outside and cried. I was scheduled for surgery; I had to have a thoracotomy to remove my center and lower right lobes. I was then sent for chemo. My family and friends rallied around me as I lost my hair and was sick from side effects like neuropathy and tinnitus. My first cat scan came back fine, but my second saw something suspicious in my left lung. I had a needlepoint biopsy that showed it was another cancerous tumor. The second round of chemo was much stronger. I had the same side effects, plus more. When my head and neck aches became too painful, I went to the emergency [...]

To hear a loved one has a brain tumor is quite over-whelming. You want to make the correct choice of treatment. The doctor's explanation, although thorough, was very frightening. Tony came to my brother's hospital room almost immediately after a call was placed. Our fears were put to rest after speaking with Tony. His step by step explanation of the procedures were very calming and made our decision for surgery much easier. Tony's ability to share his own experiences allowed my brother to believe it was possible to BEAT CANCER. Words cannot express the amount of appreciation we have for Tony. It was as though an angel had come to our aid. His positive attitude during such a dark time made all the difference in the world. He continues to be a BRIGHT spot. Tony, THANK YOU for everything. I know my brother is in GOOD hands. Jan Snow (Jimbo's sister)

I first learned about Team Tony from one of their volunteers during my breast cancer treatment at Florida Cancer Specialists. After finishing the worst of my treatment, I was introduced to Team Tony's Angela Long by a mutual friend. Angela put me in contact with Team Tony's coordinator, Michelle. Soon I was participating in a training program to become a mentor for other cancer fighters. I was so excited to help others, as I had received so much love and support from so many friends and strangers. My first pairing was with a fighter who faced a less invasive treatment protocol than myself, but her emotional scars were the same. It's been 2 years since that first Team Tony match and Angie and I are still friends! I started a Cancer Survivor Ministry at my church after learning they didn't already have one and invited Team Tony to come to one of our gatherings to explain what they [...]

Team Tony provided me the gift of hope, and thanks to Team Tony, I will be able to participate in a clinical trial that could provide hope to many diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Through their financial assistance in purchasing flights to participate in Cynvenio's triple negative breast cancer monitoring clinical trial, Team Tony is supporting scientific efforts to develop a unique liquid biopsy approach to tumor monitoring to quickly and accurately identify tumor genetic mutations within 27 genes known to be altered in breast cancer. Although this lab test can provide peace of mind to any type of breast cancer survivor, perhaps it has an even greater impact on those of us who have TNBC because while it is the least common type of breast cancer, it is the most deadly. We have the lowest 5 year survival rate of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and one-third of us diagnosed with TNBC will have a [...]

Team Tony is a gift that keeps on giving. I am a five year cancer survivor. Myhusband Bill and I enjoy giving back to our community, because the communitytreated us so well during my breast cancer journey.Team Tony gives us the opportunity to fulfill a promise we made to each other, thatafter my treatment, we would pay it forward and help other cancer patients findconfidence and hope during their cancer journey.Bill and I attended the Team Tony training program. We felt right at home, becauseall the incredible people in the room shared the same vision and mission.Soon after the training, I was connected with a cancer patient that will undergo thesame treatment I completed. This is a gift to me to be able to inspire, encourage, andwalk beside a cancer patient that is experiencing the unknown at this time.Team Tony created a gift giving program that allows survivors to give the gift offriendship to a newly diagnosed cancer [...]

My wife, Donna, and I first met Tony McEachern on the evening of August 21, 2015 while we were awaiting my second brain surgery in less than two months. Dr. Kyle Ruffing, my Neurologist, asked us if he could contact Tony to have him call. He did more than call, he came to visit. At that point in time a huge whirlwind that we found ourselves in suddenly got small and personal. Tony quickly shared his life experiences over the past 12 years. We learned that Tony has been battling a brain tumor and all the treatments, seizures, travels that go along with it which was exactly what Donna and I had ahead of us. We would go on to share the same doctors at Duke University; the same access to clinical trials; and, the same local oncology group, Florida Cancer Specialists. We also learned that through Team Tony, we had access to seminars, bowling nights, and Sunday [...]

A cancer diagnosis is a leap into a journey of medical tests, doctors, nurses and hospitals. If the patient asks, there are support systems available for amyriad of cancers, thanks to organizations like Team Tony. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago and joined a cancer support group, but my biggest support came from my husband. He was my caregiver. My husband is also a cancer survivor and I was his caregiver, twice. A caregiver provides emotional support, encouragement, ensures the patient is taking their meds, communicates with medical teams, family and friends...the list goes on what caregivers do. But caregivers need support too, as they can feel isolated, scared, overwhelmed and the pressure to be a constant "cheerleader." Michelle Mussett was able to match me with a woman who reached out to find someone who would understand the role she had been thrust into. This person and I bonded instantly because of our shared role [...]

After 52 years in the Retail industry (Department Stores, Jewelry and two of my own businesses), Karen and I decided to retire in Sarasota, a town we both enjoyed visiting and vacationing for many years. We moved to Sarasota in May 2013 and shortly after that I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and had surgery and Chemotherapy starting October 2013. Chemo lasted for 7 months and during that time I had the opportunity of experiencing and learning about Team Tony Volunteers and the wonderful work that they accomplish with Cancer patients. I began volunteering at FCS in the beginning in May of 2014 with my current, weekly volunteer program. It has been and continues to be one of the most satisfying "jobs" I've done in my life. The contact with Cancer patients, undergoing treatment, the highs, lows and the confusion involved has made this chapter of my life incredibly fulfilling. I look forward to every week working with [...]