Montclair Family Rallies for Dad Diagnosed With Throat Cancer

Fernando Urquijo had a lump in his throat for two years. Doctors told the family that the lump was a common inflammation, and it would likely go away. It never did.

Urquijo noticed that the lump had hardened, and it began to bother him. On May 15 this year, he was formally diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the tonsil area. The cancer had progressed to stage 4, the most aggressive stage of cancer.

As a Colombian native, Urquijo works as a business owner in construction and has been living in Montclair for 38 years. He is also a history buff.

Urquijo’s step-daughter, Silvana Martinez, a 2011 MHS graduate, said that her dad is unlikely to complain about his own problems and would “give up something that would make him happy, to make someone else happy.” She also described her dad as extremely generous and caring.

“When we found out, it was like the world stopped and everything stopped making sense,” said Martinez. “It was a blend of fear and sadness, and the whole ‘Why him?’ and ‘Why us?’”

Doctors later discovered three lumps in Urquijo’s throat; two small lumps and a larger, 4-centimeter growth. Though the cancer was localized to the right side of Urquijo’s throat, at this size, simply removing the lump or the tonsil would be a dangerous surgery.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common form of cancer, usually seen in heavy smokers and drinkers. Urquijo quit smoking 13 years ago and is not a drinker. 

While the cancer is treatable, Martinez said “cancer is cancer, so they [doctors] never say you’re going to be 100 percent okay.”

“Our weeks were filled with appointments and preparing for his treatment, and everyday was scary,” Martinez said. “Especially having young siblings, and having to tell them the truth about what was going on was probably the hardest part.”

Urquijo has four children; his eldest step-daughter, Daniela Martinez, is a recent graduate of The George Washington University, and his younger step-daughter, Silvana Martinez, is a rising senior at the same university. 

Urquijo’s youngest children are Nicholas, 12, a student at Glenfield Middle School and Luciana, 8, a student at Hillside Elementary School.

Urquijo’s chemotherapy treatments consist of a four-day stay in the hospital. The high dosage requires him to stay admitted. His second round of chemotherapy began July 15, but the family will have to wait for CAT scan results to see how much the lumps have shrunk. Afterward, doctors will decide how much more radiation and chemotherapy are needed.

The Martinez sisters began a GiveForward page to help offset the costs of their father’s treatment. Even though insurance covers half the costs of treatment, the family has had to tap into their savings to make ends meet. 

Urquijo is the sole provider for his family. Both of his step-daughters work and contribute when possible.

Initially, the sisters didn’t tell their dad about the donation page, but he later found out when it was posted on Facebook.

“He’s very proud,” Silvana Martinez said. “But this entire process has humbled him. In times like this, you have to ask for help when you need it.”

The page has an overall goal of $50,000 and has reached 25 percent of this mark. For more information or to make a donation, visit the family’s Giveforward page.