Julio Delucchi
About Me
I’m Captain Julio Delucchi, a cancer liaison for Station 36, San Francisco Fire Department. I learned about DetecTogether’s 3 Steps Detect and passed the early cancer detection program information on to the members of 36, and it really stuck with me.
How This Started
I did not have any tell-tale signs immediately to alert me, but after a month of pains in my abdomen area and lower back, I decided to reach out to my primary care doctor.
What I Noticed
At first, we thought it could be acid reflux, but we ruled that out when the pain got worse.
My Decisions Along the Way
A biopsy revealed I had cancer. The tumor had created a blood clot in my splenic vein, which caused all my pain. The silver lining was that we detected it early, in stage 2, and the tumor was dormant.
Why It Was Easy to Wait
I had no immediate tell-tale signs, and the initial workup pointed toward more ordinary explanations like acid reflux and pancreatitis before the CT scan clarified what was really there.
The Moment Things Changed
As soon as we found out it was cancer, we took action. My wife is an oncology nurse, so we got the ball rolling quickly between her doctor and our cancer foundation. Within two weeks of my diagnosis, I had my port placed and my first treatment behind me.
What Happened Next
My doctor sent me for an abdominal ultrasound and found that my gallbladder had some fatty polyps. They also spotted something on my pancreas that was blurry and hard to identify. She thought it could be pancreatitis and had me stop drinking. She also ordered a CT scan of my pancreas, and that’s when the image revealed the spot more clearly.
What Would Have Helped Sooner
Nothing would have caught this sooner than the CT scan that followed once the ultrasound raised a question.
What I Learned and What I Want Others to Know
I had a total of 12 treatments over six months, surgery to remove what was left of the tumor along with my spleen and gallbladder, and five weeks of radiation for precautionary measures. Recovery has been slow, but I am getting stronger every day. If your doctor doesn’t want to order a scan, demand it or contact another doctor. You need to advocate for yourself. The faster you get diagnosed, the better the outcome. I tolerated the treatment well and kept a positive attitude throughout the journey, with great support from my wife, family, and fellow firefighters.
Changes I Noticed
Fatigue, Pain.
