Philip Wornum is a 59-year-old grandfather of 7 grandchildren, and lives in Milton, MA. For 31 years he was a Boston firefighter, risking his life daily to serve the city’s residents. Most would call his choice of profession heroic, but Philip would say he was “just doing his job.” He enjoyed this profession and its strong element of service.
During his 31st year at the Boston Fire Department, Philip was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer. He had been a healthy man who had no physical limitations in performing his job or living an active life with his family.
Results of a routine blood test during his annual physical showed an abnormality that concerned his physician, who ordered more testing. He had been monitored, because he had had monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), which can develop into several diseases, including blood cancer.
After the additional testing, Philip got a call from his oncologist, who had always said, “No news is good news. If you don’t hear from me, everything’s okay.” So when he heard her voice, he knew something was amiss. He was told that the MGUS now developed into multiple myeloma.
Philip knew people who had cancer, and how they came to grips with the illness, so he knew what to do after getting over the initial shock. It was suggested that he join a clinical trial that was already in progress, and he did.
He has immersed himself in the trial and the aggressive treatment regimen, which includes taking 1 oral pill every week for 3 weeks, then taking a break on the fourth week, to allow his body to gain strength before starting the next cycle of treatment. Fortunately, the clinical trial is in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, less than 10 miles from his home.
Philip’s hope for the success of his treatment was justified, as suggested by his response to his medications. His blood cells and blood protein numbers were going down, he gleefully says, “not 2-fold, not 3-fold, not 4-fold, but 6-fold.”
He is now in his 35th treatment cycle, and is doing well. He is very optimistic that he may get well. His focus is on “being the bright light for everybody, because I got a lot of people that worry about me. A lot of people love me…it’s nice.”
Part of Philip’s “circle of love” is his 6-year-old granddaughter, Kayla, who is very intelligent, and is the light of his life; she gives him quite a lot to live for. He looks forward to her becoming older, because, according to this doting grandfather, “She’s going to be special!”
