Tom’s Story

Site created on June 16, 2020

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

My journey to SNUC diagnosis started in Fall/Winter 2019 when I noticed my right eye would water/tear when exposed to a cold breeze.  Sometime in December/January I lost my sense of smell and the eye tearing increased in frequency.  Finally in April/May I experienced sinus congestion and intermittent vision issues in my right eye.  A visit to an ophthalmologist ruled out nerve or muscle issues  but tested and confirmed a blocked vessel that drains tears to the throat.   Next referral was to an ENT "Eyelid" doctor that was concerned with the small bump at the side/bridge of my nose.  Lastly, I was referred to another ENT doctor that specializes in the sinus area. A biopsy through the right nostril and Head CT was completed ... and tests confirmed a Sinus Nasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC).



SNUC is a very rare aggressive cancer ... I believe about 100-1000 times less common than breast cancer with no evidence-based treatment plan.  Therefore, my team of cancer doctors could not simply recommend what sequence to complete my treatment - Surgery, Radiation, and Chemotherapy.  It was a very  difficult decision but we have chosen the Chemo/Radiation path followed by Surgery.

Newest Update

June 5, 2021

Journal entry by Tom Kiefer —

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the dreaded "you have cancer" call from the doctor.
Fortunate to report my quarterly MRI scans continue to show no signs of the SNUC tumor and the Cancer Team at Froedtert are very pleased with my recovery!
I hope this will be my last post as the cancer battle becomes a distant memory.  However, I will always remember the prayers and support received by all of you during this most difficult time in my life.  Much appreciated. You are awesome!
Enjoy summer and stay healthy, Tom
Read More of the journal titled "June 5, 2021"
  • Prost !
    Prost !
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Tom Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Tom's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Leave a comment of support for Tom

Did you know? A quick comment, no matter the situation (positive or negative), can boost morale by 28.2%.

Comments Hide comments

Load more comments
Read More Journal Entries

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

Personal Fundraiser
Support Links
Helpful Requests
Go to Ways to Help
SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top