when Steve Dobro’s doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital asked if he would do a public service announcement about colon cancer, he immediately agreed.
“I wanted to just help out,” he said.
then the Mansfield resident found out the video piece was for Kick Cancer, an ongoing cancer awareness campaign involving the new England Patriots. his message would be shown on the Jumbotron at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro during the Jets game Monday, and he would be there to see it.
“he was thrilled,” his wife, Leeann Dobro, said. “He’s a huge football fan.”
Dobro was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009. For several months, he had abdominal cramps, and had ignored them, but eventually went to see a doctor who diagnosed the cancer, Leeann said. Dobro underwent surgery, but the cancer recurred in 2010. he underwent a second surgery and is now following up with chemotherapy.
Dobro’s oncologist had asked if he was interested in taking part in the public service announcement specifically because his cancer was discovered only after he had gone to see a doctor about his symptoms, as opposed to it being detected from a colonoscopy. At 45, Dobro had been too young to begin going for regular colonoscopies.
in the announcement, Steven said he advised people to get a colonoscopy so they would be around to see the Patriots play in the next Super Bowl. he also said how important it is to pay attention to symptoms.
“If you are not feeling right, take the appropriate steps,” he said.
Leeann said Steve agreed to do the announcement because he wanted to do “anything he could to help prevent someone else from going through this.”
“this was so uplifting,” Leeann said.
She said going the chemotherapy had left Steve not feeling well and feeling down.
“this really lifted his spirits,” Leeann said.
Dobro is taking a friend to the game Monday. They will have VIP tickets and Dobro will get to go onto the field before the game.
the focus on colon cancer during Monday’s game is part of the new England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Kick Cancer, a season-long initiative to increase cancer awareness among Patriots fan. the campaign involves Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital — the founding hospitals of Partners HealthCare — and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Earlier in the campaign, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski and punter Zoltan Mesko visited patients at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Players Matt Slater, Julian Edelman, Brian Hoyer and Ron Brace and Mesko visited pediatric patients and their families at Children’s Hospital in Boston last month.
the PSA video with Dobro will also air on the Patriots and Mass General websites, YouTube and Facebook, according to hospital spokesman, Katie Marquedant.