Georgia Firefighter Beats Cancer After Misdiagnosis Nightmare

When Calvin "Otis" Hitchcock went in for a routine physical in 2022, he expected to be cleared for duty as usual. Instead, abnormal bloodwork launched the healthy 42-year-old firefighter into a medical nightmare that would nearly cost him his life.

At another hospital, Hitchcock was misdiagnosed and given incorrect treatment for almost a year. The wrong care left him physically debilitated and forced him to step away from the fire service he loved, all while his real condition went untreated.

Determined to find answers, Hitchcock sought a second opinion. Through a cancer foundation connected to the fire service, he found his way to City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta and Dr. Leslie Popplewell, who finally gave him the correct diagnosis: lymphoma.

"Not only did City of Hope have the expertise to give me the right diagnosis, but for the first time, I felt really listened to," Hitchcock said. "They didn't just treat my cancer. They treated me like a person first."

Dr. Popplewell, who has been performing bone marrow and stem cell transplants since 1997, led Hitchcock through intensive treatment including a bone marrow transplant. The procedure replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells, restoring the body's ability to produce new blood and immune cells.

The timing proved significant. City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta just achieved FACT accreditation for its bone marrow transplant program, an internationally recognized stamp that confirms the program meets the most rigorous standards in cellular therapy.

The Ripple Effect

Hitchcock is now thriving and using his experience to help others. He travels across Georgia as a director at the Georgia Firefighter Association, educating fellow first responders about a sobering reality: firefighters face higher cancer risks than the general U.S. population.

His message centers on self-advocacy. "What I tell everyone is don't be afraid to ask questions or get a second opinion," he said. "Having the right team behind you can change everything and could save your life."

The accreditation means patients across Georgia and the Southeast can now access world-class bone marrow transplant care without leaving their community. City of Hope has performed more than 20,000 transplants since 1976, and every BMT program across its national system is now FACT-accredited.

One firefighter's fight for the right diagnosis is now saving others from the same struggle.