Kevin Morrison thought he had fought his hardest battle. After being diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2020 that later spread to his bones, the 76-year-old Medford resident underwent 60 radiation sessions, chemotherapy and numerous additional treatments at Tufts Medicine's Stoneham Cancer Center. By 2024, his cancer was in remission—a victory worth celebrating.
But then came a different kind of fight, one that would test Kevin's resolve in ways cancer never had.
When pain became the enemy
"It was the worst abdominal pain I had ever experienced in my life," Kevin recalls. "And it just wouldn't go away."
What started as mysterious abdominal pain quickly became all-consuming. Kevin's doctors were concerned because every test, every scan came back clean. His cancer wasn't causing this pain, but something was. Unable to eat anything beyond french toast and grilled cheese due to the discomfort, Kevin lost 60 pounds. Over several months, he visited three different hospital emergency departments a total of seven times, each visit following the same frustrating pattern: extensive testing that found nothing wrong, IV pain medication for temporary relief and then being sent home—only for the pain to return days later.
With no answers and no lasting relief, Kevin reached his breaking point.
"I understand now why people think about ending their own lives," he admits candidly. "Just the constant thought that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I have to do this all over again and spend another day suffering."
The detective work that changed everything
In his desperation, Kevin was referred to Tamara Vesel, MD, Chief of Palliative Care at Tufts Medical Center and Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine and Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, at her newly opened clinic at the Stoneham Cancer Center. At the time of his first appointment, Kevin had made four separate emergency department visits in just one week.
Dr. Vesel did what no one else had done: she looked beyond Kevin's recent medical history.
Digging deeper into Kevin's past, Dr. Vesel discovered a revealing pattern. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, when Kevin worked as an American Softball Association (ASA) umpire, he experienced similar abdominal pain during high-pressure situations such as Olympic Trials, Pan American Games and various World and National tournaments. Although stressful, these types of games led to his ASA Hall of Fame induction in 2014. The pain would disappear once the stress of the game subsided. The same thing happened when he watched his son, Michael Morrison, play as an NHL goalie for three different teams. The stress of watching his son compete at hockey's highest level would trigger the pain.
Now, following his cancer diagnosis and intensive treatment, Kevin's anxiety was constant—and so was his pain.
Dr. Vesel identified the culprit: chronic visceral pain syndrome, a debilitating long-term disorder characterized by pain originating from internal organs. Kevin's stress and anxiety were triggering and amplifying his pain in a vicious cycle. With persistent worry about his cancer diagnosis and treatment, the stress never resolved and the pain only deepened his anxiety.
The medication that made all the difference
Dr. Vesel prescribed nortriptyline, an older oral medication that works as both an antidepressant and pain reliever. While rarely used for cancer patients, it was exactly what Kevin needed.
The results were nothing short of remarkable.
After the first dose, Kevin went three days without pain—three days of relief he hadn't experienced in months. A dosage adjustment led to eight pain-free days. After one final prescription tweak, the pain vanished completely. For the past six months, Kevin has lived without the debilitating pain that once made him question whether life was worth living.
"I'm a walking miracle," Kevin says with evident joy. "I'm thrilled to be waking up every morning without pain. It reached a point where I didn't think anyone would be able to help me. But Dr. Vesel believed me and thought outside the box. She made an educated guess, and she guessed right the first time."
According to Dr. Vesel, "Kevin's history of pain and how his body responds to stress was the key to determining which medication might help him. It's clear his pain was exacerbated by stress from his cancer diagnoses and treatments. The medication has worked so well that we are now trying to wean him down to a lower dose."
A second chance at living
The transformation has been complete. Kevin has regrown the full head of hair he lost during chemotherapy. He's gained back all 60 pounds he had lost and is eating normally again. Most importantly, his tests and scans continue to show reduced cancer levels, and without the constant pain, he can finally enjoy his life again.
Understanding palliative care
Kevin's story illuminates a critical misconception about palliative care—one that prevents many patients from getting the help they need.
"Some people think that palliative care is the same as end-of-life care, but that couldn't be further from the truth," Kevin emphasizes. "In fact, for me it was the exact opposite. Dr. Vesel saved my life."
Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from symptoms and stress of serious illness—at any stage of treatment. It's about improving quality of life for both patients and their families. Unlike hospice or end-of-life care, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment and isn't limited to terminal diagnoses.
For Kevin, palliative care wasn't about preparing for the end. It was about reclaiming the life he thought he had lost.
Hope lives here
Kevin Morrison's journey reminds us that healing isn't always straightforward. Sometimes the most debilitating symptoms aren't the ones we can see on a scan or detect in a blood test. Sometimes it takes a medical professional who listens deeply, thinks creatively, and refuses to give up when others have run out of answers.
Today, Kevin wakes up each morning pain-free, grateful for the second chance he's been given, not just to survive, but to truly live again.
If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms that aren't being adequately addressed, talk to your healthcare team about whether palliative care might be right for you.
At Tufts Medicine, our palliative care specialists work alongside your other doctors to provide comprehensive support focused on your quality of life.
