Last updated: 1/31/2011

Never Surrender to Cancer!

By Russell W. Johnson(a brain cancer survivor and thriver)

On Super Bowl Sunday of this year my life changed forever! After being treated for a sinus infection by two non-ABMC affiliated Doctors for two weeks I began to throw up. My wife Ethel called a lifelong friend of mine in California who now heads an Emergency Room. He stated in no uncertain terms "get to the Emergency Room and do not leave without a CT scan and Bloodwork!" Alexian Brothers Medical Center ER did even better, within minutes of arriving blood was being tested and I was on the way for a CT scan and then was moved to ICU. The result was a mass on my brain. Tuesday February 5th I had a craniotomy to remove a tennis ball size malignant brain tumor laced with the cancer glioblastoma multiforme. During the surgery the Neurosurgeon lined the tumor bed with six Gliadel wafers and when I woke I was already receiving chemotherapy! The Neurosurgeon told my wife I would be recuperating in the hospital for seven days. But due to the FIVE STAR care afforded me at ABMC I was released after four days and in church Sunday.My cancer is notorious for recurring but I am ready to face it head on every step of the way as I WILL NEVER SURRENDER TO CANCER! I am fully informed of my disease but I choose not to dwell on its negative aspects or statistics as sinking into a pool of self pity or playing the part of a victim would only be toxic and a depletion of positive energy. Long term survivors face multiple surgeries as tumors recur but since my cancer can be contained it is only a matter of time before a cure is developed due to 412 clinical trials taking place around the globe as I scribe this story, I know a cure will found during my lifetime. I can never thank the entire ABMC and Cancer Institue staff enough, you have immensely helped not only me but those before and after me. May God continue to offer his special graces to all of you as your helping hands and hearts give so much to your fellow man everyday. Fellow Cancer Patients and Survivors keep the faith! There is hope for all situations. NEVER SURRENDER TO CANCER! Believe it, chant it and pray for it. NEVER SURRENDER TO CANCER!

UPDATE: After 6 1/2 weeks of radiation and chemo I was given a one month rest. A follow up MRI was taken and the result was more shocking than my initial diagnosis. The 10% of the brain tumor that the Neurosurgeon could not remove is gone therefore there is no visible evidence of cancer in my brain. I will now undergo six months of further chemo to eradicate any lingering or lurking cancer cells. I will NEVER SURRENDER TO CANCER!

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Update: 1/31/2011

Here is my long overdue update!

• 2/5/ 2008- First Craniotomy
• 4/08- Start Avastin (When I first recieved Avastin it was on an "off label" basis ) every two weeks and Temodar 5/23
• 10/08- End Avastin and Temodar
• 5/09- Recurrence in tumor bed
• 6/09- Gamma Knife Surgery
• 1/10- Tumor grew from pea to walnut size
• 2/3/10- Second Craniotomy
• 2/23/10- Begin Avastin and Temodar(every two weeks and 5/23)
• 5/3/2010- FIRST GRANDCHILD IS BORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• 7/23/10- Stop Temodar and remain on Avastin
• 9/10/10- Onset of proteinurea
• 11/7/10- Recurrence of two tumors (pea and small grape size) in original tumor bed
• 12/1/10- Gamma Knife Surgery
• 1/7/11- proteinurea continues, taken off Avastin, will remain on Temodar indefinitely
• 2/3/11- Appt. to see Nephrologist(kidney specialist)
• 2/5/11- THREE YEAR GBM SURVIVOR!!!

Thanks infinitely for Virtual Trials!!! Early on I read as many survivor stories as possible and one of the first things that I read was that "long term survivors have multiple surgeries" That sentence has resonated in my brain and gave me great peace of mind every time I have had a recurrence. If I did not read this in Virtual Trials I would not have the peace that permeates every cell of my body. Thanks again!!!

Please write with any questions

p.s. I do add a scoop of cold milled organic flax to my cereal every morning. Of course I learned of flax in the VT survival stories!