Gratefully back to ‘normal life’ through advances in cancer research

Before retiring from his career as a millwright, Donald Openshaw, of East Brookfield, Massachusetts, “kept things running” inside industrial shops throughout the Worcester area. As precision craftsmen, millwrights “install, upgrade, maintain, diagnose, and repair industries’ most complex and intricate machinery.”

It’s an essential role that mirrors the finely-tuned mechanics of a top-notch oncology team—including the one at UMass Memorial Medical Center that has been caring for Donald since he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, six years ago. 

Now age 77, Donald is back to his “normal life” thanks to the leading-edge care he is receiving, which includes participation in a clinical trial. He’s been feeling so good that “if they didn’t tell me I had cancer, I wouldn’t know,” he said. 

Donald expresses deep appreciation for the entire team involved in his care, from the hospital’s custodial workers to his oncologist, Muthalagu Ramanathan, MD, a professor in the Department of Medicine/Division of Hematology-Oncology, director of the Myeloma Program and co-director of the Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Program at UMass Chan Medical School. 

“Dr. Ramanathan is a fantastic doctor who doesn’t miss a thing,” said Donald. “If something’s not right, she’s on top of it immediately.” 

Donald credits all the researchers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring new and more effective cancer treatments to patients like him. 

“When I was diagnosed with cancer at age 71, I went for chemotherapy for a year and then had a stem cell transplant,” he said. “From what I understand, if I had gotten sick a few years earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to get the transplant. And I maybe wouldn’t still be here today. It was all thanks to recent advances in treatment.” 

The impactful research and discovery happening every day at UMass Chan is, in turn, powered partially through donations from the philanthropic community—including the individuals, teams and sponsors supporting the UMass Cancer Walk. Since 1999, the annual event has raised more than $17 million for adult and pediatric cancer research and clinical trials of new, potentially lifesaving therapies. 

For Donald, it’s been a long journey that began with fear and uncertainty but has progressed to a place of perseverance and deep gratitude. 

“When I was first diagnosed, I was in a state of shock and very afraid,” he said. “Looking back, I feel truly blessed for everything that other people have done to help me get better.” 

With a renewed lease on life, Donald is indulging in his love of roller coasters. Next up is a road trip to Florida and the Great Smoky Mountains, with a requisite stop at Dollywood to test out the theme park’s thrill rides. 
 
While he’s unable to attend this year’s Cancer Walk on Sept. 28, he plans to get involved in a future event. 

“Getting cancer gives you an entirely new outlook on life,” he said.” I’d like to pass that on.”