Young Dad Battling Cancer: 'It's Just A Bump In The Road'

AQUEBOGUE, NY — Matthew Rolle, of Aquebogue, thought he had the flu and went to the doctor — only to receive news that he was in for the battle of his life, with cancer of the colon and liver.

But rather than feel overwhelmed, Rolle, 34 — a young dad with an 18-month-old son, Clayton, and wife, Haley — has chosen to face his diagnosis with an upbeat spirit and optimism that shines strong.

Rolle, who grew up in Mattituck and has lived in Cutchogue, said a few months ago, he started feeling as though he had the flu. "I went to the hospital to be checked out," he said; while there, a CT scan revealed masses in his colon and digestive track, he said. He then had a colonoscopy; a pathology report indicated that the masses were cancerous.

At first, the diagnosis was daunting, he said.

"It was definitely a little rough at the very beginning — just being so young and having a young child, a wife and family. It was a little tough to swallow," he said.

But with a family history of the disease, and the example of his own father, who faced a similar battle but is now fine, Rolle chose to come out swinging, starting chemotherapy immediately.

After finding an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Rolle said they "went over the game plan — and within two weeks, I was having the first chemo treatment. It all happened pretty fast. But that's better than letting there be a delay."

Rolle, speaking on the phone from a family vacation with friends in North Carolina, said for the first three months, he had treatment every other week at MSK's Commack outpatient center.

And the progress has been positive, he said. "They did CT scans and the masses that were in my colon have shrunk," he said.

Tumors on approximately 90 percent of liver have been the cause of greater concern, he said. "We're hoping now over next course of treatments those masses can be shrunk down small enough that they can do a resection of the liver — because the liver grows back. It's one of only organs that regenerates," he said.

Despite his health challenges, Rolle has been able to continue working; he's in maintenance, building and grounds at the Riverhead Central School District. And he served for nine years as a volunteer firefighter with the Cutchogue Fire Department.

"Right after treatment, the first few days were a little rough," he said. But normally, he's able to work for half a day then schedule treatments in the afternoon.
"I'm able to work the next day," he said. "With the medicine, I feel pretty good."

Rolle fully believes, though, that it's a positive attitude that's the best medicine.

"If my mind is in the right place, I feel like my body will follow," he said. "The more positive you are, the better. You've got to keep busy. If you're out and moving, it keeps your mind and body moving. It keeps you going."

Rolle also advocates for eating healthy foods and listening to the doctors, who have been positive about Rolle's diagnosis, he said. "The doctors are very optimistic about how things are going to go. There's so much new technology, so many advances now in science and medicine — different procedures," he said.

And so, Rolle said, he faces the challenge as a temporary hurdle to scale.

"I feel very confident, and the doctors feel very confident, that everything is going in the right direction," he said. "It's a bump in the road. A bump in the road that slows you down for a second, but you know you're going to get through it."

Rolle said he likes to relate his experience to the film Patch Adams, where actor Robin Williams, portraying the doctor, keeps everyone smiling and happy. "If you continue to have your body in motion and a positive attitude and busy schedule, that's the best way to do it," Rolle said.

While some, he acknowledged, find that upbeat demeanor difficult — the illness, he said, for some, "can really knock you down physically and mentally" — the best course of action is to choose positivity.

The North Fork community, Rolle said, has helped in a big way to keep his spirits bright, organizing a softball fundraiser; Kait's Angels also raised funds for Rolle and his family at Friday's Designer Handbag Wingo night.

"I'm overwhelmed," he said. "It's an amazing community we live in. An amazing network of people, of family and friends and firefighters and people you don't even know."

Rolle said he's happy to talk about his diagnosis, to share updates on social media with the army of angels who've rallied to help him through the fight.

After his recent vacation with family, Rolle plans to come back strong, fighting the foe and looking forward to his future with his little boy and beautiful family: "We're rocking and rolling. I'm doing well. I have a positive attitude. The way I look at it, there's really no other option. I know it's going to be an uphill battle for a little while. But I'm going to fight it until it's gone."

Patch courtesy photos.