Thank you to each of the Drs., nurses, and therapists in every department at KU Med Center, who gave to Ian, exceptional care, attention, and love, during his fight with cancer. Thank you, very sincerely.

 

 

IAN's new website - www.Iansstory-tca.com

 

 

Ian's Story... a brief summary

 

November, 2004...  

 

Ian was diagnosed in November 2004, with Testicular Cancer. Once in the hospital for "staging" and immediate treatment, we learned it was Metastatic Testicular Cancer, meaning it started in the testicles and had grown throughout his body. The cancer was already in what is known as the "3rd stage"  - it was present in several of his organs and in his brain. Ian's intense chemotherapy treatment began the week of Thanksgiving in the hospital, and we learned that Testicular Cancer was curable. This was wonderful news. Ian endured the aggressive chemotherapy with dignity. It made him feel horrible, but the hopeful outcome was where he kept his focus.

 

Ian spent almost 2 weeks of the Christmas holiday season in the hospital as well, enduring another week of chemotherapy, followed by 2 weeks of side effects.  We learned he needed to begin radiation treatments as well for the growing cancer in his brain. Ian was home for Christmas, but he was not feeling well at all.

 

For the entire month of January, Ian had a radiation treatment every weekday, and chemotherapy treatments continued. We learned the cancer had started to resist the current chemotherapy and began to grow again, so a different chemo regimen was started.

 

By early February, an MRI revealed that all the tumors in Ian's brain were gone! What a day of celebration that was! Ian was SO happy! He had suffered so much with the radiation and chemo for a month, and now that was over. The world looked brighter, and we could see the rainbow on the other side of the storm. Ian's hope was recharged, and we talked endlessly about his future, and his fulfillment of his dreams.

 

Later this same week, Ian's doctor told us the bad news that the cancer was no longer responding to this second line of chemotherapy treatment. It just wasn't working anymore, and the cancer was growing again. Fast. So fast that his treatment was changed that very day.

 

So this is the third line of treatment. Ian has already received 5 different kinds of chemicals designed to kill cancer, and none of them have worked. Radiation to the abdomen was not possible because the lungs cannot tolerate radiation, and the lesions were too numerous for surgery, even in the beginning. Chemo was the only hope, and now it was letting us down.

 

Ian's 20th Birthday came in February, but he was too sick to celebrate. He slept most of the day and night, and he didn't feel very well through the next couple weeks. The end of February came and we prepared for this coming line of treatment for him, which included a bone marrow transplant.

 

In early March, just before the second course of this chemotherapy was to begin, a blood test revealed that the cancer was growing at a rate that could be fatal within a couple of months. This meant the current treatment was not working, and only one other chemotherapy drug was available, with a 50% chance it could work, the doctors said.

Ian seemed to grow more sick by the hour. The new chemo drug was given to him, still, the cancer filled his lungs. Within a week he was moved to ICU. It was there that he left his body and found his freedom from suffering forever.

 

If a loved one is face to face with cancer, I encourage you to do whatever you must, in order to stay with your loved one as much as possible. I saw so many people going through cancer alone. Even though he felt alone in his illness, Ian did not go through those horrible months of treatment by himself.

I spent every day and night with him from the day he was diagnosed, and sometimes he was with his friends. I always stayed with him in the hospital, and he told me many times, "Mom, you are my best friend. Thank you for being the best Mom in the whole world. I could never make it through this without you...thank you for being here with me." Every once in a while, he just took my hand, held it close to his face, kissed my fingers, and said "I love you Mom, thank you so much..." And even when he felt so sick, he still gave me the greatest hugs in the world.

Cancer treatment can be scary and lonely. I share Ian's words, with hope that who ever is reading this will understand the appreciation your loved one will have for your just being there with them, even in silence.

 

I feel so very lucky to be Ian's Mom. It is the most wonderful blessing in all the world, and Ian is the most amazing son ever. I am grateful to my husband for all his endless love, strength and support for both Ian and me through those times and now. Thank you, Mark, and thank you Ian for who you are. I love you.

 

                                                  ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

 

  Ian wanted me to tell the world about Testicular Cancer, that some would be spared the suffering that Ian lived with because the cancer grew so strong. Check your body.  Testicular Cancer is curable - IF you get treatment quickly - don't wait for your doctor to ask you about it - if you think something is not right with your body - make your doctor check you for cancer!  If you catch it early, you won't have to suffer as much as Ian did. Testicular Cancer happens to YOUNG men. Tell your family and friends.

                     Spread the word and ROCK OUT AGAINST CANCER!