Health & Fitness
Not your typical romance story
For one New Jersey couple, a dual diagnosis of kidney tumors led to back-to-back robotic surgeries and a new chapter in their 25-year love s
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John Zisa, a prostate cancer survivor, and his partner of 25 years, Cynthia DePalma, were both coincidentally diagnosed with kidney tumors within days of each other. John's nodule was discovered during a routine MRI, and Cynthia's cancerous, olive-sized nodule was found shortly after.
The Bergenfield couple was referred to Mutahar Ahmed, M.D., a urologist and Director of the Center for Bladder Cancer at Hackensack University Medical Center. Recognizing the unique situation, Dr. Ahmed suggested they have their surgeries on the same day to aid their recovery. The team at the new Helena Theurer Pavilion arranged for their patient rooms to face each other so they could be together before their operations.
Both John and Cynthia successfully underwent a robotic single-port partial nephrectomy, a minimally invasive procedure performed through a single small incision that removes the tumor while preserving the healthy part of the kidney. Before John's surgery, Dr. Ahmed informed him that Cynthia's procedure went well, which gave John "peace of mind."
Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., Chair of Urology for the Northern Region, noted that the care team's actions exemplified the principle of treating the "whole person." During their recovery, the couple found comfort and humor in their shared experience. Cynthia expressed her gratitude to the Hackensack University Medical Center team for enabling them to go through the "comical but flawless experience" together.
Read more about the couple who turned a dual cancer diagnosis into a shared story of hope.
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