A man has been diagnosed with the same terminal brain tumour that killed his dad – despite no hereditary link found by doctors.
In 2007, Stony, lost his beloved dad, Antonino, 72, to glioblastoma, an aggressive form of malignant cancer.
Sadly, he quickly deteriorated and died within 18 months.
His father’s death left Stony devastated and the pain of the loss was reignited when, just a few years ago, he was tragically diagnosed with the same type of tumour.
“Everyone loved my dad and he could make anything happen,” the 52-year-old artist, who counts celebrities like actor Gwyneth Paltrow among his fans, told Jam Press.
“Born and raised in Sicily, he loved the endless amounts of opportunity here in England and working in many different industries.
“When he passed away I felt lost.
“Not only had we been in business together running restaurants and importing fruit and vegetables from Europe to the UK for a long time, but I feel like he moulded me to the confident, successful, hard-working person I am.
“On the other side, he was a massive family man, and he showed me what a real family should be like.
“It was hard to accept that life will go on after he left us and it was hard for me to pick myself back up.”
Stony’s own journey with cancer began in February 2019, when he started to feel unwell and collapsed suddenly at home.
He said: “It was 4am on a Friday morning and the only day that year where it snowed.
“I got out of bed to go to the bathroom when the whole room started spinning.
“I had an agonising pain in my chest which is why I then knew something was very wrong.
“Due to the snow, the ambulance took over 45 minutes to get to me, and during that time I had moments where I thought I was going to die.”
He was taken to Watford General Hospital where they did tests and discovered that he also had glioblastoma – the same cancer as his dad.
Stony said: “My dad was the first in our family that I know of to have this disease, so when I found out I had the same cancer as my dad I was shocked!
“Going through the 18 months of my dad’s illness with him, I was scared about my future for me but also my family that would have to support me through it.
“I already knew so much about the disease that it made me accept it straight away, as I knew what I was dealing with.”
The very next day, Stony was rushed to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queens Square, London.
There, he underwent a six-hour operation to remove a 6cm tumour.
Glioblastoma is an aggressive cancer and although the tumour had been removed, it usually regrows quickly and the life expectancy of someone with the condition is around 18 months.
Since then, Stony has been undergoing a range of treatments.
He said: “I recovered well from my first surgery and for the first year, while undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, I did really well – I was positive and feeling strong.
“Once I had my second surgery in 2021, that’s when my health changed.
“They say that when the regrowth of the tumour happens, everything is downhill from there and quickly.
“The longer I have lived, the more anxious I have become.
“To know each day is closer to the end is really quite terrifying.
“I outlived the original prognosis of 18 months, which is amazing, but since that milestone I have been feeling like I’m living on borrowed time.”
Living with cancer – and the reality that a tumour can return at any point – has been harrowing but one thing that has helped Stony cope is his art.
Before his illness, the award-winning artist has had his work exhibited all over the world, including The Louvre in Paris, as well as galleries in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Vegas and Dubai.
Many A-list stars collect his pieces, including Gwyneth Paltrow, who is a big fan.
He said: “I’ve always been a creative person and use my art as my therapy, so it has been important to me to paint regularly to get my thoughts and emotions out on canvas.
“I don’t just paint on canvas; I like to go out on the streets with my crinks (a high pigmentation ink) and spray cans so as many people as possible can see pieces of my art.
“Three day after my operation, I was right back out on the streets [painting graffitti].
“I love the thrill and excitement of expressing myself on brick walls and garages.”
Sadly, Stony’s condition is deteriorating.
He is currently taking a break from chemotherapy and although he is often left tired from his symptoms, he makes sure to keep painting as much as he can.
The artist has his easels and canvases set up around his bedside and is determined not to give it up.
He added: “The art has kept me going more than anything.
“Now I can’t stand up in my studio because I am weak so I have filled my living room with canvases and paint there now.”
