Missing Doctor Impacted Lives of Marco Islanders

Dr. Chaundre Cross’ status is currently shrouded in mystery and surrounded by great concern, if not outright dread. 

The radiation oncologist with more than a decade practicing in the Naples area was last seen boarding his 34-foot Crownline, the "Vitamin Sea," on August 9th at the Naples Bay Resort & Marina. The boat was found, unoccupied, on August 11th, off the coast of Sanibel Island, launching an immediate U.S. Coast Guard search. That effort was suspended on August 14th after a roughly 13,100 square-mile area had been combed over the course of 100 hours. 

A specialist in prostate, breast and brain cancers, Dr. Cross has served as chairman of the NCH Healthcare System’s Cancer Committee and as board president for the Cancer Alliance of Naples. He was formerly affiliated with 21st Century Oncology, which has offices near Physicians Regional Hospital’s campus off State Route 951. He was currently on staff with Genesis Care, which has offices in Naples and Bonita Springs. 

Over the years, Dr. Cross’ caseload has included many residents of Marco Island, who came to value him not just for his expertise, but the compassion he exhibited while treating them.

Longtime Marco Islander, Glenn Walton, began seeing the doctor around February of this year, at the recommendation of his oncologist Dr. Jay Wang, and his urologist, Dr. Marc Guttman. Walton credited Dr. Cross with working with those doctors to make a dramatic difference in his life. 

 “He was on the cutting edge,” Walton said of Dr. Cross. “When I was first diagnosed (with cancer), I was told I couldn’t do radiation because it was in my lymph nodes and had spread to my bones. So I didn’t think radiation was an option. I saw Dr. Guttman and he said, “I think you need to go see Dr. Cross.” 

Dr. Cross’ knowledge of the latest developments in radiation treatments led to a series of radiation sessions that Walton said have left him feeling rejuvenated. 

“He was caring,” he said. “He cared about what you had and he tried to make you better. He was trying to improve your quality of life and I’ve got to tell you, he improved the quality of my life. After he was done with my radiation, I got my life back a little bit and I started feeling really, really good.”  

Walton’s next appointment with Dr. Cross was set for August 16th. He said he was shocked and then in denial when he learned of the physician being missing. 

“I said, ‘No, that’s got to be somebody else,’” he said. “He was an awesome guy. I’m truly grateful that I got a chance to see him and that he treated me. I can’t thank him enough for what he did. I feel sorry for people who have cancer who aren’t going to get a chance to see him because I think he was changing people lives.”