Sept. 15, 2005

Garden City, N.Y. - Adelphi University Red-shirt freshman goalkeeper Vincent Treglia (Brookville, N.Y.) was living his boyhood dream of playing Division I soccer when he got the worst kind of news. While playing in an informal soccer game in Westchester County Vincent noticed he was short of breath after only a few minutes of play, not a good sign.

Vincent red-shirted in 2004 due to a wealth of depth at his position and then hit a road block on the way to fulfilling his dream on January 28, 2005, when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. "I went to the doctor because I was having trouble breathing and had a slight fever," Vincent said "Then I was sent to the ER where I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and I started treatment the same day."

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a malignant growth of cells that affects the lymph system. The lymphatic system defends the body from foreign invasion by disease-causing agents such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi. The American Cancer Society estimates that less then one percent of all cancer diagnosis is Hodgkin's lymphoma. This coupled with his age and family history, his aunt is the only member of his family with cancer, made the news more shocking.

Vincent first became aware that something was not right during that soccer game in Westchester County. "I started having problems breathing within the first two minutes of the game," Vincent explained. "I substituted myself in and out a few times because I couldn't breath after a few sprints."

Not much was thought of the breathing problems because there was construction going on at Vincent's home, so he thought it might have been the dust or just a cold. About two weeks later Vincent developed a fever and made an appointment to see his doctor.

During the check-up his childhood doctor noticed that his throat was swollen and that his lymph nodes were enlarged and ordered an x-ray. The results showed that there was a large mass in Vincent's chest, which was causing the breathing problem. Vincent and his mother were instructed to go right to the emergency room.

That same day Vincent was admitted to North Shore Hospital and was given a CAT scan that revealed the lymph nodes in his chest were pressing on his trachea, leaving just a three-millimeter opening. Later that day a biopsy was done on the mass in Vincent's chest to determine the best course of action. After the biopsy he was moved to intensive care as a precautionary measure so that the doctors could keep an eye on the trachea issue. Vincent was also given hydrocortisone treatments to suppress the lymph node swelling.

After five days of enduring four to five tests a day Vincent was moved out of intensive care because the swelling in his lymph nodes was reduced to a safe level. "It was a little frustrating, all the test and stuff, but it was just precautionary." Vincent stated. But with that good news, came the realization that Vincent had a 12-centimeter mass in the center of his chest that was diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease stage II.

One of the first things Vincent did was call up Head Men's Soccer Bob Montgomery and make him aware of the situation so that he could let the team know. The second was withdraw from classes for the semester. "I called coach and a few of the guys on the team so they could let my professors know I wouldn't be in class," Treglia said. "A few of the guys came to see me in the hospital. While I was going through treatment at least one person from the team came to support me every week."

"Anytime an illness affects someone, especially a young person, its always very scary and very serious. We were worried not only about his physical state but also his emotional well-being," Montgomery said. "I stayed in touch with Vincent throughout and he had an unbelievably positive outlook. He always spoke to me about `when I come back and play' it was never if."

To beat the disease Vincent would have to endure six months of chemotherapy followed by three weeks of radiation treatments. He received chemotherapy every other week, with each treatment lasting from three to five hours. One of the major side effects of the chemotherapy, especially in the days immediately following treatment was fatigue. "I got a little tired and if I didn't feel well I was told to stay in bed," Vincent explained. "But it was how I dealt with it mentally that counted, if I didn't want to get out of bed I knew I had to, it really helped to remain active."

All during his treatments Vincent remained active, going to soccer games, coaching, visiting cousins, stopping by Adelphi to see teammates and encourage the team at practices. "One of the things that really helped me get through this was the fact that I was in the best shape of my life before I was diagnosed," Vincent said.

Treglia is back competing for playing time and in school full-time.

In fact Vincent felt well enough that he was able to play soccer during chemotherapy. A few players and alumni from the men's soccer team gathered once a week starting in early June to play pick-up soccer and Vincent was there, playing just six short months after being diagnosed.

"The doctors never put any limitations on me, they just told me that if I was breaking a good sweat I was probably going to hard," Vincent said. "So I would play for 5-10 minutes, rest and they go at it again."

In early July he received the last cycle of chemotherapy and was cleared to resume normal activity, even though he still had three weeks of radiation treatments left. When the men's soccer team opened up preseason camp in mid-August Vincent was in the middle of those treatments. "I would get radiation in the morning [Monday-Friday] and then go to practice." Vincent said. During the first week of preseason Vincent would receive radiation, practice hard in the morning with the team, hit the weight room with the men's trainer and then practice light in the afternoon.

On August 19 Vincent was declared to be in full remission, and has not stopped working hard since. "I haven't taken a day off [of training] since the week before preseason because I'm not with satisfied where I am physically," Vincent said. "I want to get back to where I was last December and then go beyond that."

Vincent's main goal this season was to pass the men's soccer fitness test, which is completing a three-mile run in under 21 minutes. The team runs the fitness test during preseason, but Vincent failed to meet the goal time. About a week ago he took the initiative to run the test on his own and came in under the allowed 21 minutes.

"Vincent is a great inspiration for not only me but our team," Montgomery stated. "His passion for the game of soccer and life is incredible, he has such a positive outlook."

If there is one thing that Vincent wants others to learn from his experience it's that being diagnosed with cancer does not mean you have to give up your dreams. "Just because I was diagnosed with cancer didn't mean I had to stop living my life," Vincent said. "Even with the treatment I did as much as I could and I tried to stay involved."

Vincent is now back in school full-time, playing soccer again with the men's team and competing for playing time, while holding down a part-time job. "Having a good base of people around me really helped me through it," Vincent explained. "My aunt, and my parents were always with me and there for me. Everyone was there to help and support me. It didn't just bring out the best in me, it brought out the best in the people around me."