Sam was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma in February 2023 during his senior year of high school after discovering a lump on the front of his neck. Initially, doctors believed the swelling was related to strep throat, but after the lump failed to shrink with medication, Sam was referred to specialists at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. During surgery to remove what was believed to be a thyroglossal duct cyst, pathology confirmed the mass was Synovial Sarcoma. A second surgery followed shortly after to remove additional tissue and achieve clean margins.
Following surgery, Sam underwent extensive imaging and biopsies to determine whether the cancer had spread. Scans revealed concerning findings in his lungs, spine, and skull, leading to several difficult days before biopsies ultimately confirmed there was no metastasis. Due to the tumor’s size and location in the neck, Sam and his family consulted specialists at Jefferson, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) before deciding to move forward with preventative chemotherapy at CHOP.
At 17 years old, Sam underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, spending multiple nights in the hospital every three weeks throughout the spring of his senior year. Despite the physical toll of treatment — including hair loss, weight loss, nausea, hospital visits, and blood transfusions — Sam continued playing for his high school baseball team, attended prom, and graduated alongside his classmates.
After completing treatment in July 2023, Sam took a postgraduate year before beginning college at Oberlin College in Ohio, where he studies engineering with minors in data science and politics while continuing to play baseball. He remains passionate about movies, sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Today, Sam remains with no evidence of disease and continues routine surveillance with MRI scans and lung imaging every six months. His journey reflects resilience, determination, and the importance of taking life one day at a time.