Lorraine and Gene Sacco

Lorraine and Gene Sacco have led a relentless 16-year effort to improve cancer care and awareness for adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 15-39 years old). Dedicated supporters of Tufts Medical Center, they worked with Dr. Susan K. Parsons and Tufts MC leadership to found the Reid R. Sacco Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program in 2012 in memory of their son, Reid, who passed away at the age of 20 from cancer. In total, the Sacco family and friends, who established the Reid R. Sacco AYA Cancer Alliance, have contributed more than $1.3 million to Tufts MC - transforming AYA cancer survivorship care.

“Our inspiration continues to be our son, Reid,” Lorraine and Gene said. “Reid was gregarious, fun-loving, generous, unassuming, and caring. He was a passionate sailor, a national record-holding swimmer, a talented musician, and a brilliant student. To this day, we continue to learn new stories of how Reid helped one of his peers navigate through academic, athletic, and social challenges of all types. He left an indelible touch on everyone he met.”

Shortly after being accepted to Columbia University and just a few weeks before graduating from high school, Reid was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma - a rare type of cancer that forms in the soft tissue. Even though both Lorraine and Gene had spent their entire adult lives employed in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, neither anticipated the gaps in AYA care nor how difficult they would be to overcome.

“At the time of Reid’s diagnosis, there was little awareness of ‘AYA’ cancer,” Lorraine and Gene described. “Cancer was focused on children (i.e., Pediatric Oncology) and on adults (i.e. Medical Oncology), as two distinct models of care. The lack of awareness of AYA cancer meant that many AYA cancer patients experienced delays in diagnosis, allowing the cancer to spread for weeks and months before finally receiving treatment. We personally had difficulty gaining access to clinical trials because the eligibility criteria excluded AYAs – Reid was either too young or too old.”

Despite an aggressive two-year illness that took Reid through months of intense chemotherapy and radiation and through countless surgeries that eventually claimed a kidney, a lung, and one leg, the cancer took his life on April 16, 2005. Before he died, Reid dreamed not only of finally attending Columbia, but also of starting a movement to find better treatments -- and someday a cure -- for the cancers striking his age group.

“Reid wanted to hold a bike ride to raise funds to fill the gaps for future AYA patients,” Lorraine and Gene said. “The first Annual Reid’s Ride, a 28-mile bike ride, was held in July 2005, just three months after his death. This year, when the pandemic prevented us from holding the ride in-person, our friends and supporters rallied to participate virtually.”

Lorraine and Gene also established the Reid R. Sacco AYA Cancer Alliance in Reid’s honor. Through Reid’s Ride and two other annual fundraising events, the Alliance supports research to advance treatments for cancers that predominately strike young adults, and survivorship care for individuals between the ages of 18 and 39 who have ever been diagnosed with cancer.

In 2012, the Alliance launched the Reid R. Sacco AYA Cancer Program at Tufts MC, under the leadership of pediatric hematologist/oncologist Susan K Parsons, MD, a national leader in the study and treatment of AYA cancers and patient survivorship. The Reid R. Sacco AYA program provides age-appropriate survivorship clinical care. The multi-disciplinary team develops the patient’s Survivorship Care Plan for each AYA - a holistic care plan designed around the biological, physiological, and psycho-social needs of the patient to assist them in managing their long-term health following treatment. The program team has developed a network of more than 40 Tufts MC specialty/sub-specialty providers to enhance care coordination for patients. The program also trains the next generation of health care professionals, including mentoring of hematology/oncology fellows and medical students, and it advances AYA-specific research, education, and outreach.

“Our clinic is here to help young survivors manage long-term side effects, ranging from medical to psychological as well as the financial burden of cancer,” said Dr. Parsons.

“We have been so fortunate to work with Dr. Parsons,” said Lorraine and Gene. “She shares our passion and vision to make revolutionary changes in the model of care for AYA cancer patients and survivors. The AYA Cancer Program at Tufts Medical Center set the standards for AYA Cancer Programs, and has helped instigate the proliferation of AYA Cancer Programs around the nation. While these programs come in all shapes, sizes, and depths, none of them is as mature, as comprehensive, as seasoned, or as innovative as the one here.”

As the Reid R. Sacco AYA Cancer Alliance celebrates its 16th anniversary this year, Lorraine and Gene proudly reflect on its accomplishments.

“In partnership with leading experts, like Dr. Parsons, we have built a firm foundation with which we radically improved the treatment, care, and outlook of AYAs diagnosed with cancer,” Lorraine and Gene said.

On April 9, 2021, the Alliance will host the first annual Northeast Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Conference. The Conference will be held as a live virtual event and will showcase the AYA Cancer Program at Tufts MC. In July 2021, the Alliance will host the 17th Annual Reid’s Ride 28-Mile Bike Ride to Fight AYA Cancer.

“Tufts Medical Center is profoundly grateful to the Sacco family for their enduring support and leadership,” Dr. Susan Parsons said. “Through their generosity and partnership, we have been able to transform AYA cancer survivorship care together, here and across the country.”

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