07/16/08 La Pine

"I remember sitting there when she was talking to me about it and just watching her mouth move."

That's how Stu Martinez, a volunteer fire captain and the Mayor of La Pine, took the news that he has throat cancer. But as he will tell you, the diagnosis is just the beginning.

"Went over to my mom and dads and say, hey, I'm going to need help,” says Martinez. Fighting cancer became a family affair. And why shouldn't it be? Afterall Martinez already works with his parents at wilderness garbage and recycling.

"When he came over, I actually was relieved," says his mother Corinne. Relieved because it was a chance to help. Corinne became the team manager helping Martinez work through the task of managing feeding tubes, chemo treatments and the effects of radiation. While his camera shy father served as a chauffer, driving Martinez back and forth from La Pine to Bend up to six times a week for his cancer treatments.

"And here I have the yellow tubing and everything going in and I’m thinking that, you know, some of the stuff going into me would melt plastic," Martinez says. Though harsh, the treatments are working, but they come with a price.

"He gave me the crew cut to get the hair off so it wouldn't clog the drain." And as the days of treatment went on, it took an emotional toll on everyone.

"You just kind of wait for that phone call, is he going to be alright," Corinne says. Through the worry and concern, she found comfort in an odd part of her son’s history.

"He has not only battled cancer but he's also a recovering alcoholic which I think really helped him in his battle." And a history with alcohol is not the only test from the past Martinez has to face.

"I believe, in my case, that smoking did cause it."

The prognosis is good. Martinez’s last hurdle to remission will be a pet scan in the fall. His plans now include more personal interests volunteering for the Red Cross and spending time with mom and dad.