As many of you know, my brother Brian has always been a light-spirited, positive energy individual. He has an infectious demeanor that many people tend to resonate with.

Having said that, the last couple months have been a very tumultuous time given unexpected health issues that arose: Brian was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. The news came as a complete surprise and send shock waves through our family. How could a diagnosis like this occur in a young, healthy, and in great shape individual? It seemingly makes NO sense, especially as all the Doctors chalked it up to “bad luck.”

You’re all probably wondering some basic things: who, what, when, where, why, how?

The technical diagnosis didn’t official happen until late May/early June. The first signs that something was wrong occurred on May 7th 2024 – Brian woke up complaining about stomach pain. He thought it might have been gas, but after 3 days of exquisite pain, he quickly realized it was a bigger issue. After going to the Doctor, the ER, and ultimately getting admitted to the hospital, there was a high suspicion of cancer. One of the initial MRI’s confirmed a swollen lymph node in his lower abdomen: about 10x the size it should be, hence the pain Brian was experiencing. This typically occurs because the body is indicating unusual activity - an infection, or in this case, cancer. Additionally, one of the initial Cat Scans revealed multiple nodules that spread to his lungs. Between multiple blood test, MRI’s, Cat Scans, and Biopsies, there was enough evidence to make the official diagnosis of testicular cancer, despite no presence of any mass.

What are the next steps and how do we cure this? Luckily enough, testicular cancer is one of the “easier” cancers to cure — the success rate is very high. The Doctors said Chemotherapy is the best course of action to take. The recommended time frame they gave Brian for chemo is 12 weeks, which is broken down into 4 cycles. Each cycle consist of the following: The first week is for 5 consecutive days with 5 - 6 hour sessions; The following week is a 1 day, 2.5 - 3.5 hr session, and the week after is the same 1 day 2.5 - 3.5 hr session. It’s a 5, 1, 1 schedule that is repeated 4 times over 12 weeks. Assuming all goes well with no side effects or additional issues, the cancer should effectively be gone. With this being best case scenario, technically he would not be out of remission until 5 years out, as this is standard time frame for most cancers.

As he continues to go through his journey, any type of support is greatly appreciated! Don't hesitate to reach out via email, text, or phone call to show support. I know Brian will appreciate the warm messages, the positive vibes, and good energy, as it all plays a factor in raising his spirits and getting him through this challenging time!