An Interboro High School graduate who is battling cancer was honored Tuesday night at the Phillies game against the Chicago Cubs, writes Stephanie Stahl for CBS News Philadelphia.
The Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Phillies joined forces for Strike Out Cancer Night, giving the ceremonial first pitch to Josh Breen.
“As a lifelong Phillies fan, you think that you’re gonna get to the major leagues by playing,” Breen said. “I think that this is a different way of going.”
“Definitely a little bit of pressure,” he added.
Breen was diagnosed a year ago with stage 3 melanoma and is in physical therapy now at Fox Chase.
It was right after his wedding, during his honeymoon in Italy, when he discovered a lump.
He was only 30 when he was diagnosed.
Breen took immunotherapy before surgery, a new approach that is changing the face of cancer.
“The survival and outcomes is really the best we’ve ever seen, so really, really exciting,” said Dr. Jeffrey Farma, head of surgery at Fox Chase.
Breen described a wild year of highs and lows, adding, “Things are definitely trending in the right direction.”
Find out more about Josh Breen and the latest advances in cancer research at CBS News Philadelphia.
