Tony Kinsey fights
bout with cancer,
seeks spiritual solution
Tony Kinsey, 40, of Detroit knows something Kinsey had no family history of leukemia,
about giving his life up to a higher power. and had always had regular physicals every six
Kinsey was diagnosed with chronic myelog-
months.
enous leukemia (CML) at the age of 38. One
“I really didn’t have any symptoms,” he said.
day later, he got a pink slip from a company he
had worked at for years.
Dr. Schiffer prescribed the oral chemo-
therapy drug Imatinib Mesylate, also known as
“I was getting laid off and I’m dying of
Gleevec, for Kinsey, who takes the medication
cancer,” Kinsey said with a rueful smile. “There
every day to control his leukemia. Karmanos
was a lot out of control.”
was the first center in the Midwest to test the
Kinsey’s former employer agreed to pay for medication in original clinical trials. Gleevec was
18 months of health insurance though the family FDA approved in 2000 and has since helped
had to pay an additional 18 months of health in- many CML sufferers, including Kinsey, lead pro-
surance on their own. The family took things in ductive lives.
stride despite the financial sacrifice.
“Right now, we think he will take it for the rest
“You have to stay proactive,” said Kinsey’s
of his life,” Dr. Schiffer said. “Most people have
wife, Annette. “There are resources available to
very few side effects. The key is taking the pill
help you through.”
and putting it in your mouth every day.”
The Kinseys have learned that over the last
Dr. Schiffer said that approximately 5,000
three years since Kinsey was diagnosed with
new cases of CML are diagnosed each year.
CML (November of 2006). Tony and Annette,
Caught early, as in Kinsey’s case, symptoms
along with their sons, Matthew, 8, Christian, 10,
are managed well with Gleevec. It specifically
and Anthony, 17, have traveled rough roads as
targets and inhibits the unique, abnormal pro-
Kinsey has worked with the Barbara Ann Kar-
tein that causes CML.
manos Cancer Center in Detroit to manage his
chronic condition. Caught in later phases, CML has a greater
That road, as he said, has presented some
chance of mutating into acute leukemia, which is
real challenges. Initially working with a hema-
cured only through a bone marrow transplant.
tologist at a different hospital, Kinsey said he Kinsey, who returned to work as a merchant
encountered stereotypes as a Black man with
consultant for a local bank in February of this
cancer, namely the misperception that he
year, said he copes with the side effects of
wouldn’t comply with a doctor’s directions and
Gleevec, including fatigue, nausea and diar-
that he was hardheaded.
rhea. He’s doing well and tries to stay active with
That’s where Annette stepped in.
yoga, pilates, aqua aerobics and other physical
activities.
“We weren’t satisfied,” she said. “I needed
him to heal. In order for him to heal, we needed His family has taken advantage of Karma-
to get him the best doctor.” nos’ support groups and the couple has creat-
She did online research and found Dr.
ed “Parenting Through Cancer” by way of their
Charles Schiffer’s name came up again and
own company, Kinsey Consulting, Karmanos
again as one of the country’s leading hematolo-
and the American Cancer Society.
gists. She was surprised to learn that Dr. Schiffer
Kinsey also encourages people who receive
is a professor of medicine and oncology at
a cancer diagnosis to be proactive in getting
Karmanos Cancer Center and the Wayne State
educated about their disease. Pray, surround
University School of Medicine.
yourself with loving people, ask for help when
“I could not believe we had that resource
you need it and don’t keep yourself isolated.
right here in Detroit,” she said.
“Learn as much as you can about it and get
“Dr. Schiffer was good,” Kinsey added. “He the best doctor you can,” he said. “Don’t go into
was very competent and he was concerned.” a shell. Let people love you.”
Tony Kinsey
 | Too young for Cancer • September/October 2009
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