TAMPA, Fla. — Jack Sica is living his best life in Florida. He listens to music daily, cooks, and spends as much time as he can with the love of his life, Roberto.
What You Need To Know
- Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S.
- Early screenings can drastically improve survival rates, according to savedbythescan.org
- Lip Sync for Lungs is January 18 in Tampa and January 12 in Orlando
After surviving a stage four cancer diagnosis, he promised himself he would live each day to the fullest.
Before moving to Tampa Bay, Sica lived in New York City.
He worked as a DJ at night and was a certified nurse’s assistant during the work week.
When the 9/11 attack happened, he volunteered to help at Ground Zero.
“The smell, I will never forget. It’s nothing like I ever smelled before. But I am so glad I did it. I have no regrets,” said Sica.
No regrets. Even though 10 years after 9/11, Sica would get that devastating lung cancer diagnosis.
“It could be a combination of things,” said Sica. “But when I got my diagnosis, it didn’t matter to me which one, what one was the reason and how I got it. It was how I go from here forward. What do I do?”
He was given just months to live.
“That is the problem with lung cancer is that, by the time you really notice something, it’s in the late stages,” said Sica.
He is one of the lucky ones. With chemotherapy and radiation, he was cancer free by the next year.
His sister, Ronnie, was not so lucky. She was diagnosed with lung cancer weeks after he was.
“Here it was. What my family was preparing me for and getting ready emotionally for my passing, and it ended up being my oldest sister ended up passing,” said Sica.
Early detection is key with cancer, especially lung cancer. “That is why it’s important to get a scan if you are a smoker or a former smoker,” said Sica.