In early September of ’18, I was diagnosed with appendix cancer after an appendectomy. After going back in the hospital a few weeks later removing 13” of colon and stripping out lymph nodes, I spent a couple months healing before going on a 6-month course of FOLFOX IV chemotherapy in early ’19.

 

In early September of ’18, I was diagnosed with appendix cancer after an appendectomy. After going back in the hospital a few weeks later removing 13” of colon and stripping out lymph nodes, I spent a couple months healing before going on a 6-month course of FOLFOX IV chemotherapy in early ’19.

Once chemo was complete in the summer of ’19 a series of scans revealed a 3 CM tumor had developed in the mediastinum area of my chest. Initially, this was diagnosed as metastasized appendix cancer that had traveled through the bloodstream (bleak outlook), but after several weeks of further testing revealed it was actually a paraganglioma tumor. Although this was better news, it was still not good being a very difficult location to get to – surrounded by windpipe/spine/aorta/lung/larynx. Soon after discovering I had a tumor, I discovered I had the SDHB genetic mutation. This mutation predisposes me to develop Paraganglioma tumors and other cancers.

After inconclusive meetings with thoracic surgeons at Grandview, UAB, and Emory, it was decided that MD Anderson might be a better option for this rare surgery. After meeting with them in October of ’19, we returned in December for two weeks to have the tumor resected. Unfortunately, as the surgery was about to begin, I went into cardiac arrest. Because the surgeons were working around the aorta, a heart team was on standby and was fortunately able to resuscitate me after about 60 seconds. For the remainder of the surgery and over the next couple days, I had to be monitored closely for a potential cardiac relapse.

A year later and I am cancer-free. I continue to be monitored every six months for reoccurrences and new cancers.