Colantonio maintains high spirits in cancer fight 

By Mary Albl for DyeStat 

WARWICK, R.I. - Bobby Colantonio Jr. is bound and determined to finally beat his grandfather and uncle at a game of cards. He says it's an important item on his list. Colantonio laughs out loud when he says that. 

The 2016 Barrington RI graduate and national champion in the hammer throw has remained competitive and clung to humor over a tumultuous couple of months.

On August 15, during a routine sports physical at the University of Alabama, the incoming freshman found out his ongoing knee pain was caused by a cancerous bone tumor in his left femur. Later that month, it was diagnosed as Ewing's Sarcoma – a type of tumor that forms in bone or soft tissue. But doctors noticed it had also spread to his left hip and lungs. ORIGINAL STORY

Crutches are now a daily support for the 6-foot-3 inch frame of Colantonio. Too much weight on his left leg could break his weakened femur. 

Life has gone in an unexpected direction for Colantonio. 

He put his dream of throwing the hammer at the University of Alabama on hold. He's now back in Rhode Island battling cancer. 

"The biggest thing that I have realized is that now I have daily medications to take, constantly in and out of the hospital, constantly getting poked for blood work, and just a general feeling of fatigue and sickness," he said. "Going from being perfectly healthy and being a world-class athlete to this is a huge noticeable change. But the one thing that hasn't changed is my sense of humor, and that has been a huge help.  No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I'm always joking with doctors or nurses or my family and I always have smile on my face."

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Colantonio's uncle, Dave Allyn is holding a charity golf tournament called, "Hammer Out Cancer" at the Valley Country Club in Warwick. The goal is to help raise funds for Colantonio and to help buffer medical expenses. For more information, CLICK HERE.

 "I have to say, I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by what I think are some of the best people on the planet," Colantonio said.

The support system has been key for Colantonio who is operating on an exhausting schedule.

Depending on which treatment he's on, Colantonio has chemotherapy two to five days a week. A typical scenario for him is two days at the Tomorrow Fund Clinic at the Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence. Then a week off. Then back in for five days.

"I get chemo every other week given that my blood counts are high enough," he explained. "So far I have remained on schedule."

The big picture of his treatment plan is divided into three parts.  

Colantonio said the first is six treatments of the chemo, which will last 12 weeks.  

"That will take me to about Thanksgiving when I will have my baseline scans again to analyze the progress," he said. "Then I start up with the chemo again for another eight treatments, so 16 weeks.  Throughout the 16 weeks I will be getting more frequent base line scans because I will be starting radiation in conjunction with the chemo.  The radiation will be done to only the primary tumor, which is the one on my femur."

Once all the chemo is complete and Colantonio, doctors will radiate the secondary tumors in the lungs and hip. 

"Everyday after chemo has been given, I have to give my self a shot which acts kind of like a catalyst in which it stimulates the bone marrow and pushes it along to produce more blood cells," he said. "Basically shortening the time your blood counts are bottomed out."

Life at the hospital is spent on the computer, playing cards, or talking with visitors. 

"Some moments have been a little rough but nothing I can't handle," he said.  "One of the key things I think is my faith in God."

At home, Colantonio said he tries to get out as much as possible, especially right after chemo when the blood counts are good. Recently, the trend as been dinner at his aunt's houe and watching football. 

He has to remain vigiilant about his left thigh bone.

"The big thing is, because of the radiation and chemo I really have to take my time and do everything the doctors tell me so I don't break the bone," Colantonio said. "Because the bone has been weakened from chemo, radiation, the cancer, and atrophy, it will be easy to break."

If it breaks, that would mean surgery for Colantonio, which he is trying to avoid in order to preserve his throwing career.  

"My chance of return is dependent heavily on the fact I rehab it enough to strengthen the bone to a normal strength  where i can hopefully be able to lift and throw again," he said. 

Colantonio has already lost nearly 40 pounds of muscle and weight. He'd like to stay above 200 pounds. 

"I have come to realize with cancer that everything is temporary. I have come to realize that and stand by it," Colantonio said. "The times you throw up, the times you feel sick, the times you feel good, the needles, the treatment, and even the cancer itself is all temporary, because the cancer is leaving. The days I feel like crap, I know it will be over soon; the days I feel good I know I will feel sick again. You have to live in the moment, take it for what it is, and move on. ... which is why I always say, Just look forward, don't look left, don't look right, and sure as hell don't look behind you."