#HelpJamesVoBeatCancer
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The first time I was diagnosed with testicular cancer was on April 22, 2013. At the time, I was only 25 years old. I was shocked! Nothing can prepare you to hear an official cancer diagnosis, especially for a healthy, upbeat guy like myself. I consider myself healthy; I work out three to four times a week, eat fairly healthy, and I have no family history of cancer.
It was one of the most stressful events of my life. There were numerous visits with my urologist that led to fear, anxiety and uncertainty. Unfamiliar feelings and thoughts filled my head. Why did this happen to me? How can I afford these medical expenses? What kind of life will I live, if I survive?
My battle with cancer had now begun. After my surgical procedure in May of 2013, I began radiation treatments. A painful and grievous first round was complete. Surgery was over and I celebrated the completion of radiation treatments in July of 2013. But I wasn't quite in the clear. Over the next few months, I continued to endure numerous blood tests and CT scans to make sure all signs of cancer were gone. Eight months of remission, and I was feeling good.
Nine months later, I noticed a lump in my groin region, on my right side. “It’s nothing,” I thought to myself. “There’s no way it could be back, could it?” Unfortunately, it continued to grow and began to cause immense pain in my lower abdomen and lower back. I could barely walk or even stand up straight with the assistance of pain medications. I went back to my urologist. He evaluated my blood work and informed me that I needed to get a biopsy because the cancer may have returned, and spread into my lymph nodes. On September 2, 2014, my results showed that I had cancer for the second time. It had metastasized to my lymph nodes in my groin and abdomen regions.
My urologist immediately referred me to an oncologist. Preparation for chemotherapy was in full swing; this included informational doctor’s appointments, informing me of the physical changes and side effects that my body would encounter, and the surgical procedure to insert a port-o-catheter into the upper left side of my chest. I started chemotherapy the very next day. Chemotherapy was five times a week, every other week. November 21, 2014, nearly a week after my birthday, it was over. My body was weak, I had been administered to the hospital for multiple days and my hair did indeed fall out, but I rejoiced because it was over. My oncologist ordered PET scans for December and March, and blood work was ordered weekly for the next five months. And thank God, the results came back negative, with signs that the tumors were shrinking.
On June 22, 2015, after feeling pain again in my back and abdomen, I had another PET scan. The results showed that the cancer had come back, and this time the cancer is even more aggressive. The Lord has blessed me to now be a patient at MD Anderson Cancer Center. For the third, and God willing, final time, work will again cease, and I will continue with the routine blood work, CT scans, and chemo treatments for the next couple of months. In this time, your love, your prayers, your words of encouragement, and any other means of support are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
James Vo
It was one of the most stressful events of my life. There were numerous visits with my urologist that led to fear, anxiety and uncertainty. Unfamiliar feelings and thoughts filled my head. Why did this happen to me? How can I afford these medical expenses? What kind of life will I live, if I survive?
My battle with cancer had now begun. After my surgical procedure in May of 2013, I began radiation treatments. A painful and grievous first round was complete. Surgery was over and I celebrated the completion of radiation treatments in July of 2013. But I wasn't quite in the clear. Over the next few months, I continued to endure numerous blood tests and CT scans to make sure all signs of cancer were gone. Eight months of remission, and I was feeling good.
Nine months later, I noticed a lump in my groin region, on my right side. “It’s nothing,” I thought to myself. “There’s no way it could be back, could it?” Unfortunately, it continued to grow and began to cause immense pain in my lower abdomen and lower back. I could barely walk or even stand up straight with the assistance of pain medications. I went back to my urologist. He evaluated my blood work and informed me that I needed to get a biopsy because the cancer may have returned, and spread into my lymph nodes. On September 2, 2014, my results showed that I had cancer for the second time. It had metastasized to my lymph nodes in my groin and abdomen regions.
My urologist immediately referred me to an oncologist. Preparation for chemotherapy was in full swing; this included informational doctor’s appointments, informing me of the physical changes and side effects that my body would encounter, and the surgical procedure to insert a port-o-catheter into the upper left side of my chest. I started chemotherapy the very next day. Chemotherapy was five times a week, every other week. November 21, 2014, nearly a week after my birthday, it was over. My body was weak, I had been administered to the hospital for multiple days and my hair did indeed fall out, but I rejoiced because it was over. My oncologist ordered PET scans for December and March, and blood work was ordered weekly for the next five months. And thank God, the results came back negative, with signs that the tumors were shrinking.
On June 22, 2015, after feeling pain again in my back and abdomen, I had another PET scan. The results showed that the cancer had come back, and this time the cancer is even more aggressive. The Lord has blessed me to now be a patient at MD Anderson Cancer Center. For the third, and God willing, final time, work will again cease, and I will continue with the routine blood work, CT scans, and chemo treatments for the next couple of months. In this time, your love, your prayers, your words of encouragement, and any other means of support are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
James Vo
Organizer
Jay Vo
Organizer
Humble, TX