When KDKA radio talk host Marty Griffin discussed his upcoming treatment for throat cancer four weeks ago, he said he was fully prepared for the rigors of the treatment protocol: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, five-day-a-week radiation therapy.
His treatment has hit some complications.
“It hit the fan [Wednesday]. I had immunotherapy Tuesday afternoon and then when I woke up Tuesday night, I was literally falling into the walls at our house,” Mr. Griffin, 58, said speaking by telephone from the intensive care unit at Shadyside hospital Thursday afternoon. “I figured I would tough it out because I had radiation the next day; I have it every [week]day at 1:15.
“But I had to be walked in to the hospital, staggering.”
A check of his vital signs at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, which is adjacent to the hospital, produced alarming numbers: a 102-degree temperature that would eventually spike at 103.7, 70/50 blood pressure and a heartbeat of 130.
He also developed a rash.
“Honestly, he acts so tough, I didn’t realize how bad it was until he needed help walking,” said his wife, KDKA-TV news anchor Kristine Sorensen. “Luckily, we were here [at the hospital complex] anyway.”
A blanket coverage of antibiotics, Tamiflu — in case it was influenza — steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as five liters of IV fluids helped.
Nonetheless, Mr. Griffin will remain in the ICU probably until Friday morning, then be admitted to the oncology wing of the hospital for observation. He said his condition has improved enough to undergo Thursday’s radiation treatment.
“We are still in a process of elimination,” his wife said. “They won’t get all of the blood tests back, maybe for a couple more days to rule out any allergic reactions.”
Mr. Griffin’s immunotherapy protocol is experimental, which means he might be receiving a placebo. If he is getting the new drug, however, it must be determined if that was the cause of his recent illness.
He sent out a Facebook Live video Thursday, making fun of his “New Age” blankets and scanning the camera around his ICU room. Mr. Griffin, whose cancer stems from the HPV virus, also mentioned viewers could go to sparkt.com, a new business venture that is promoting HPV vaccinations for children of both sexes.
“I’m in a very, very positive frame of mind,” Mr. Griffin said. “There is an astounding team of people here in the ICU, and the people at UPMC are magnificent.”
“I knew, once he was cracking jokes and sending texts, that he was doing better,” Ms. Sorensen said.
Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or @MariaSciulloPG.
First Published: October 4, 2018, 6:20 p.m.