My name is Dan MacNeilage. I am a father and a grandfather. I am a survivor and a caregiver. I live in Lathrop, California. I lost my wife to ALS just after her 40th birthday in 2004.
Cancer has been around my family for decades. My father had esophageal cancer. My aunt, cousin, sister-in-law and sister battled breast cancer. My sister passed away in 2003. In 2020, I lost a cousin to bladder cancer. She was a mom and grandmother; She was one of my best friends throughout my life.
My God daughter, Sophia, was also diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Because of the viciousness of cytoxam on the body and womb, the oncologist told her she may never conceive. He was wrong. Today she is the proud mom of 5 children. We walk our survivor lap at Relay every chance we get……no matter where we may be.
My cancer journey began 6 months after my wife passed away in 2004. I was diagnosed with Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I had an autologous bone marrow transplant that saved my life. While at Stanford, I completed 2 clinics sponsored by ACS.
In 2015, my daughter experienced a femoral hernia – a type of abdominal hernia caused by bleeding. She ultimately experienced ischemia and lost er entire digestive system. I have been her caregiver since that time. She is currently on a multi-visceral transplant list at UCLA.
In 2018, I heard those 3 words once again – YOU’VE GOT CANCER – prostrate. I was a candidate for radioactive seeding and avoided surgery. My PSA remains under 1.5 to this day. In 2022, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I was introduced to an immunotherapy called BCG. They injected tuberculosis-like cells into the bladder, and it eats the bladder lining where the cancer cells grow.
Today, I stand cancer FREE. My experience with ACS runs deep; however, the most important asset I acquired is HOPE: Hope to fight ~ Hope to live! I am HOPE.