Music, Humor and Community: Christina’s Journey with Cancer

After a lymphoma diagnosis, longtime Mummer and musician Christina Camuccio leaned on her Inspira care team, her family and her lifelong band community to keep her spirits strong.

For Christina Camuccio, music had always been a source of joy and connection. Growing up in South Philadelphia, she joined a Mummers string band at age 15, playing the saxophone alongside her brother, Len, who played banjo. Over the years, she performed, helped design costumes and even marched alongside her husband, Doug.

“The Mummers were a big part of my life,” she said. “When you spend that much time together rehearsing, performing and preparing for the parade, you become like family.”

So when Christina was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, her Mummers community rallied around her. “They were right there with me, just like they always had been,” she said. “I had my family, my husband and my band family supporting me through it all.”

A Lump, a Diagnosis and a Plan

In late 2020, Christina noticed a small lump on her neck while getting ready for the day. “It was about the size of a nickel,” she recalled. “At first, doctors told me it was benign. But over time it grew, and by January of 2021 it was noticeably bigger.”

After several tests, Christina’s otolaryngologist (ENT) performed a biopsy. The results confirmed high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a fast-growing cancer that affects the lymphatic system.

“I remember the day so clearly,” Christina said. “My brother was with me, and when I heard the word ‘cancer,’ I just started crying. That was the only time I cried during the entire process. After that, I said, ‘Okay, let’s make a plan.’”

Christina was referred to Erev Tubb, M.D., a hematologist and oncologist at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill. “From the first appointment, Dr. Tubb made me feel comfortable,” she said. “He had such a calm, direct way of explaining things. He told me exactly what was going to happen and when.”

A second opinion at a Philadelphia hospital supported Dr. Tubb’s treatment plan and reinforced that choosing her local cancer center was the best decision for her. 

Finding Humor in the Hardest Moments

Christina was determined to stay positive, even as she began chemotherapy. “I named my lump Larry,” she said with a laugh. “It came from a running joke on Impractical Jokers. It made me laugh, and I thought, if I can keep a sense of humor about this, I’ll get through it.”

That lighthearted approach helped her maintain perspective through six rounds of chemotherapy, starting in June 2021. Treatments were scheduled every three weeks, each lasting several hours. “I’d get to the hospital around 8 a.m. for bloodwork, and then they’d start what I called my ‘chemo cocktail,’” she said.

The first treatment was the toughest. “I had a reaction to one of the drugs, and the nurse told me, ‘You’re not going to like this one.’ She was right—but she was honest, and that made all the difference,” Christina said. “After that, everything went pretty smoothly.”

Staying Grounded and Grateful

During treatment, Christina continued working full-time as an accounts payable supervisor for an e-commerce company based in King of Prussia. “I’d been with the company for 19 years, and they were incredibly supportive,” she said. “Working during chemo gave me a sense of normalcy. It reminded me that life was still moving forward.”

Even when fatigue or “chemo brain” set in, she found ways to stay positive. “I’d lose track of what I was doing or forget where I put things,” she said. “It was frustrating, but I learned to adapt. I reminded myself that chemo brain is temporary and healing is the priority.”

Christina also turned to her creative side. “I started making wreaths during chemo—it became my therapy,” she said. “When I came home from treatment, I’d work on a wreath. It helped me relax and focus on something beautiful.” One of her creations, a cancer ribbon wreath, now hangs at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill. “It makes me smile to see it there,” she said.

A Community that Never Stopped Showing Up

Because her treatments took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christina had to go through chemotherapy alone. But she never felt unsupported. “My brother and my husband were my biggest cheerleaders,” she said. “They both shaved their heads when I lost my hair. My husband kept reminding me, ‘You’re beautiful with or without it.’”

Her extended Mummers family also rallied around her. “The Mummers Against Cancer Foundation awarded me with a grant to help cover my treatment costs,” she said. “That generosity meant the world to me. It showed me how strong that community really is.”

Though she no longer performs in the New Year’s Day parade, Christina said the friendships and traditions she built through the Mummers remain deeply meaningful. “It’s been part of who I am since I was a teenager,” she said. “Even now, I still play my saxophone at home, and I travel to Ireland every other year with a group of Mummers to perform for St. Patrick’s Day. Music is still a huge part of my life.”

The Final Round

Christina’s last chemotherapy treatment took place in October 2021. “It was one of the happiest days of my life,” she said. “I wasn’t allowed to ring the bell because of COVID, but walking out that day felt like a victory.”

Throughout treatment, she found motivation by comparing her journey to the Rocky movies. “Every time I went in for chemo, I’d post something on social media like, ‘Round three—still fighting,’” she said. “To me, Larry was the Russian from Rocky IV. It wasn’t about how many times I got hit, it was about how many times I got back up.”

Moving Forward

Now 49 and living in Clayton, Christina is approaching her five-year remission milestone. “If everything looks good in December, I’ll move to yearly checkups,” she said. “We only do bloodwork now, unless something looks off. I’m lucky that I didn’t need surgery or radiation. I’m grateful every day, and I hope I never see Larry again.”

She and Doug are focusing on enjoying life and traveling more. “We recently went to Scranton for our anniversary because we’re huge fans of The Office,” she said with a laugh. “It’s those small, fun things that make life special.”

Reflecting on her experience, Christina said her Inspira care team made all the difference. “From Dr. Tubb to the infusion nurses to the front desk staff, everyone was wonderful,” she said. “They treated me like a person, not a patient. That compassion really stayed with me.”

As she approaches her next follow-up, Christina continues to live by the same philosophy that carried her through treatment. “Life’s too short not to laugh,” she said. “And when things get tough, you just keep getting back up.”