By Mary Malloy
- along with other members of the Lynbrook Fire Department. "It has been heart-warming to see how the people of this community have stepped up to help Tony," Gunning said. "Friends, neighbors, merchants, our brothers and sisters in the Lynbrook Fire Department and surrounding fire departments have all chipped in. Even people who don't know Tony have lent a hand."
LaBarca, 53, was diagnosed in June with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. "I was due for a physical with the fire department soon, but I had a pain in my side that would not go away," he said. "I do carpentry, so I thought I had strained myself." When the pain persisted, LaBarca went to his doctor, who ordered a CAT scan and blood work. Those results led to the MCL diagnosis, and LaBarca was referred to a hematologist and oncologist to see how far the disease had progressed.
MCL generally occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, and is being diagnosed more widely, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It is typically found in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow or blood. There are a variety of experimental treatments, but chemotherapy is currently used most widely.
"They started me on chemo and said I needed six treatments," said LaBarca. He finished the last of the treatments on Monday, and will return for another CAT scan and bone marrow biopsy in two or three weeks. "I just want to go back to leading a normal life," he said.
LaBarca said there is no known cure for the disease. "I'll go every three months for blood work, and I'm on medication," he said. "There is a port in my chest in case they have to do chemo again." A port, or "port-a-cath," is inserted in the upper chest wall to make chemotherapy easier and more comfortable. It's about the size of a quarter, only thicker, and shows only as a bump under the skin. A special needle fits into it, and the medication goes directly into the blood. "It looks like the cap of a beer bottle," LaBarca joked.
LaBarca lives in Lynbrook with his wife, Pat, and his children, Kaitlin, 14, Nicole, 12, and A.J., 11, who attend Lynbrook schools. He worked at Mercy Medical Center as an anesthesia technician until 2004, when he became a self-employed carpenter. He is a 35-year member of the Lynbrook Fire Department, now with Hose Company No. 1. "I joined with them right out of high school," LaBarca said. "I'm in good hands with them - they have rallied for me."
LaBarca is on limited duty with the department, doing exterior work on calls. "I can't wear a pack or go into a burning building," he said, "But I can assist at fires and on calls, I can direct traffic, do other things."
Gunning and the company have planned a fund-raiser on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Tally Ho firehouse in Lynbrook. "We live in a special community," he said, "and we look forward to thanking many of them personally at the fund-raiser on Sunday."
For a $20 donation, those who attend will be treated to live entertainment by 45 RPM, food, refreshments and raffles. All funds raised will go directly to LaBarca and his family. Donations can also be sent to Lynbrook Hose Co. No. 1, 35 Blake Ave., Lynbrook, NY 11563. For more information. call (917) 796-0299.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
