Perinton woman who underwent morcellation dies
George Leuzzi described his wife, Brenda, as what everyone wants to be on New Year's Eve but few have the strength to achieve.
"She was the kind of person that dared you to become better because she was better," her husband said. "Even though it seemed so effortless for her, it wasn't. She was just that focused and disciplined."
Brenda Leuzzi of Perinton died Friday, slightly more than two years after learning she had an undetected cancer had been spread by the technique of power morcellation. She was 44.
"She fought like nobody else I've ever seen fight," George Leuzzi said. "If she had any choice in this matter, she'd be alive today. She fought that hard. But unfortunately the cancer just took too much from her."
Mrs. Leuzzi is at least the second Rochester-area woman to die after having cancer worsened by a minimally invasive surgery for fibroids or a hysterectomy that involved use of a power morcellator. The device uses spinning blades to mince tissue so it can be removed through the small ports used in minimally invasive procedures. Morcellation does not cause cancer. Because there is no way to definitely know before surgery whether a fibroid harbors cancer, the blades can spread the cells of a previously undetected tumor.
Mrs. Leuzzi underwent surgery in September 2012 and her struggle was part of several Democrat and Chronicle stories about morcellation.
The Food and Drug Administration in April discouraged the use of power morcellators, and in July held hearings on the safety of the procedure. Mrs. Leuzzi's uncle, Gene Manly, testified about her experience. The FDA has yet to render its decision about the fate of power morcellation.
"I'm disgusted with the FDA," George Leuzzi said. "But right now I want to honor my wife and put her to rest."
Mrs. Leuzzi worked as a fitness instructor, and was remembered for her energy and kindness as well as her love of family. She and George have a daughter, Peyton.
"For Brenda there is family, and there is everyone else," George said. "I never met anyone who was as close to their family as she was."
He said she spoke daily with her parents and brothers, and there was never more than a day that she didn't spend time with her mother.
Having Peyton "was the best thing that ever happened to us," he said. "The three of us were extremely close, especially this last year when everyday was cherished."
George Leuzzi said they'd bought a home and before cancer, considered themselves "in a good place. We were looking to get on with the next chapter of our lives. We considered ourselves very blessed."
In addition to her husband and daughter, Brenda Leuzzi is survived by her parents, Joyce and Alfred Greco; brothers, Randy (Ann Marie), Alfred (Lisa) and Steven (Lisa) Greco; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives.
PSINGER@DemocratandChronicle.com