Veteran Douglas cop faces colon cancer for third time

Having faced down colon cancer two times since 2001, Douglas County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Biaggini didn't waste any time when he began to feel ill early in December.

"It started with excruciating chest pain," Biaggini said. "I thought, 'What the hell is that?'"

Biaggini was due for a semiannual exam to determine if cancer had returned when the pain started getting worse.

Doctors arranged for a battery of tests to determine what was blocking Biaggini's bile ducts.

"I knew the cancer was back," he said. "In the meantime, I am turning real neat shades of yellow."

Biaggini and his wife Mary went to Pacific Medical Center where he had previously undergone treatment for cancer.

"I knew when the bile ducts were blocked, that's a life-threatening situation and they made it their first priority, not the cancer," he said.

What doctors envisioned as a single procedure, turned out to be four, Biaggini said, as they inserted stints and a drainage bay to relieve the blocked system.

His lime-green eyes and yellow skin returned to their normal color.

"I looked like a radioactive cartoon character," he said.

And, as was suspected, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to his bile ducts.

"We had another little scare that it was bile duct cancer as opposed to colon cancer. The doctors said it was nonexistent for colon cancer to get in the bile ducts. I had to laugh when my doctor said, 'You made the book again. You just made a whole chapter.'"

Biaggini admitted the cancer's return is frustrating.

"You do your best to maintain a positive attitude that you're going to beat this. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I was frustrated. We've been through this two times before in a 5-year-period."

This time, however, Biaggini's spirits have been boosted by a private fund-raising effort put together by his colleagues in the sheriff's office where he's worked for 25 years.

Sgt. Bernadette Smith created "The Douglas County Sheriff's Office Calendar" which provides a look at the various departments.

Fifteen local businesses agreed to sell calendars for $10 apiece with proceeds going to the Mike Biaggini Cancer Fund.

Realizing it's two months into 2007, Smith made a calendar that goes through April 2008.

She ordered 1,000 calendars.

"When I was promoted to sergeant, I was asked by the undersheriff to redo our deputies' picture board. In August, I was getting new pictures and they were all posed," she said.

"I thought it was kind of dry, so I went to their training sessions and got some pictures in action. I think it came out really great."

Smith said she worked on the project during her off hours and her colleagues donated more than $2,000 to cover printing costs.

In addition, the printer, R&S Optimum Offset, gave her a generous discount.

"We've seen other agencies do calendars," she said. "They make good little fund-raisers. During that time Mike came down ill and we decided to help our own family first."

Biaggini is captain of the patrol division, leads the honor guard and the crisis negotiation team and is the chief deputy coroner. He was a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics team for 16 years.

"He is well-respected and loved by our department as well as members of the community," Smith said.

Biaggini said he is grateful for the support.

"I gave my approval for the calendar, but I feel a little weird about it," he said. "It's the first time ever we utilized donations from the public. A lot of people here go out of their way to help you. It's like one buddy helping out another," he said.

The Biagginis plan to use the donations for nonmedical expenses like hotel bills, meals and gas as they travel to California for treatment.

When the cancer returned in 2005, the Biagginis son Michael was 3, and too little to understand.

Now, Michael is 5 and he knows "no running or jumping on Daddy," Biaggini said.

As he has in the past, Biaggini intends to keep working as he undergoes treatment.

"I'm not at my peak performance. I'm moving a little slower than usual, but It's not in me to sit at home and look at the walls," he said. "I'm sure like anybody else who experiences cancer, that it came back is the last thing you wanted to hear. But you've got to do what you've got to do."

DETAILS

Douglas County Sheriff's Office calendars are available for $10 each at:

Florence Fence Co., The Record-Courier, M. Scott Properties, New Valley Real Estate, Western Nevada Community College Douglas Campus, Uniformity, R&T Cleaners, Sharkey's, Carson Valley United Methodist Church, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Minden and Stateline stations, FitzHenry's Funeral Home, Walton's Funeral Home, Partnership of Community Resources, Elations Salon.

Businesses interested in selling the calendars are asked to contact Sgt. Bernadette Smith, 783-6429.