Firefighter Wins Third Cancer Fight, Organizes Code 3 for a Cure

To say he’s a survivor would be an understatement. Firefighter Lorenzo Abundiz is a champion. On Tuesday, he celebrated his third successful win over cancer by banging the gong at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The ceremony also marked the end of the Californian’s stay at Houston Fire station 33.
That’s where Houston firefighters took him in, offering support and friendship throughout his proton-therapy treatment.

“I can’t hold my emotions down because these guys have been my brothers,” Abundiz said, holding back tears.

His wife Peggy knows those feelings run deep. In the past eight years, Abundiz has gone through 250 surgeries. He beat sarcoma in 2003 despite the 4 percent chance doctors gave him. He beat bladder cancer one month later, and now he’s triumphed over prostate cancer.

“We’ve had so many close calls and I’m just really happy that he’s going to be home,” Peggy Abundiz said.

But Abundiz’s third successful battle against cancer is not the end of his journey. Through his organization Code 3 For a Cure, he’s going to once again travel with a fire crew in a fire engine across the country and into Canada to spread awareness.

“Firefighters do get cancer a lot earlier, certain cancers,” Abundiz said. “I had bladder cancer diagnosed in 2003. Oncologists all attributed it to tar. I never smoked a cigarette in my life, but I was in a bunch of roof fires and that was bunch of tar there.”

Abundiz wants firefighters and everyone else to embrace early screening and support the search for a cure.

Despite everything he’s been through, he spreads his message with a smile. Dr. Andrew Lee said that makes a world of difference.

“His attitude was always positive and upbeat and he had no doubt in his mind that he was going to get through this with flying colors, which he did,” Lee said.

Soon, Houston could have a permanent support system in place for others in Abundiz’s position. Chief Lorenzo Diaz said the city of Houston recently bought old firehouse 27 in Denver Harbor. Their hope is to turn it into a place where firefighters from out of town can stay while they receive treatment in the Medical Center.

“We always are responding to the citizens, but sometimes we have to step forward and help ourselves help each other out,” Diaz said.

“Hey, we’re firefighters. We can put out fires and we can put out cancer,” Abundiz added.

Abundiz plans to launch his cross country awareness tour in September.
By Carl Willis, KPRC News, Houston