Brian's cancer fund
Donation protected
On Tuesday, October 3rd Brian Justice, a 34 year old healthy man went into Skagit Valley Urgent Care. He had been feeling extreme fatigue, weakness, and a fast heart rate after walking up stairs at his home. The doctor ordered blood tests, a CT scan, and an ultrasound. He was sent to the ER for quicker results. By midnight he was told his hemoglobin was at a 6 and that he was severely anemic and needed a blood transfusion right away. By 2am the ER doctor delivered the news that his CT scan showed multiple nodules on his liver, lungs and pancreas, and that the diagnosis was most likely cancer. He was admitted to the hospital that night.
After a blood transfusion the oncologist and urologist came to speak with Brian and his wife Jenn. After the urologist completed his physical exam he felt pretty strongly that Brian had Testicular Cancer. Brian received an orchiectomy (surgery to remove his left testicle) on Thursday, October 5th. He was released on Friday, October 6th to heal and rest, and await the pathology report from the testicle. They had both been told that Testicular Cancer was highly treatable compared to most Cancers.
Brian and Jenn decided to continue his care at Island Hospital in Anacortes under the care of his oncologist Dr. Theodore Kim.
On Tuesday October 10th, Brian went in for an iron infusion to boost his continued anemia. On Wednesday he was scheduled for a surgery to place a port under his collarbone which would eventually administer his chemotherapy treatments, blood transfusions, and countless blood draws. That morning his blood draw showed low hemoglobin numbers and the surgeon decided that surgery was not an option. Another blood transfusion was ordered.
As he sat in the chair receiving his blood transfusion in the Merle Cancer Care Center Brian started having severe and repetitive pain in his abdomen on his left side. The pain was getting increasingly worse and eventually he was admitted into the ER. A CT scan showed that the tumors in his organs had grown and spread exponentially. One in his lung grew over 2cm in less than a week. The pain was a result from the tumor growth. This was surprising and troubling news. Brian was admitted into the hospital because his pain was to severe to manage at home.
This morning Thursday, October 12th the oncologist delivered his diagnosis. Brian has nonseminoma Stage IIIC Choriocarcinoma Testicular Cancer. His particular Cancer is extremely rare. Less than 1% of patients who have Testicular Cancer receive this diagnosis. Island Hospital has never had a patient with Brian's diagnosis. His prognosis is 50/50. The doctors had to move quickly and chemo was started hours later.
Brian has been moved to the ICU for one on one care. He received his first of 5 consecutive days of chemo. He will stay in patient for the remainder of this round of chemotherapy.
After he is released he will be seen by the head of Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. This news was shocking not only to Brian, Jenn, his family and friends, but also his entire team of doctors and nurses. This is going to be an incredible fight, and much more than anyone could have imagined.
Brian and his wife Jenn have a three and a half year old son, and a daughter who turned 1 today. They are terrified and devastated, but ready to be strong and fight. On top of the astronomical medical bills they will face, they have a mortgage, car payments, and everyday bills to pay. Neither can work during this very difficult time.
Any contributions would be so much appreciated.
After a blood transfusion the oncologist and urologist came to speak with Brian and his wife Jenn. After the urologist completed his physical exam he felt pretty strongly that Brian had Testicular Cancer. Brian received an orchiectomy (surgery to remove his left testicle) on Thursday, October 5th. He was released on Friday, October 6th to heal and rest, and await the pathology report from the testicle. They had both been told that Testicular Cancer was highly treatable compared to most Cancers.
Brian and Jenn decided to continue his care at Island Hospital in Anacortes under the care of his oncologist Dr. Theodore Kim.
On Tuesday October 10th, Brian went in for an iron infusion to boost his continued anemia. On Wednesday he was scheduled for a surgery to place a port under his collarbone which would eventually administer his chemotherapy treatments, blood transfusions, and countless blood draws. That morning his blood draw showed low hemoglobin numbers and the surgeon decided that surgery was not an option. Another blood transfusion was ordered.
As he sat in the chair receiving his blood transfusion in the Merle Cancer Care Center Brian started having severe and repetitive pain in his abdomen on his left side. The pain was getting increasingly worse and eventually he was admitted into the ER. A CT scan showed that the tumors in his organs had grown and spread exponentially. One in his lung grew over 2cm in less than a week. The pain was a result from the tumor growth. This was surprising and troubling news. Brian was admitted into the hospital because his pain was to severe to manage at home.
This morning Thursday, October 12th the oncologist delivered his diagnosis. Brian has nonseminoma Stage IIIC Choriocarcinoma Testicular Cancer. His particular Cancer is extremely rare. Less than 1% of patients who have Testicular Cancer receive this diagnosis. Island Hospital has never had a patient with Brian's diagnosis. His prognosis is 50/50. The doctors had to move quickly and chemo was started hours later.
Brian has been moved to the ICU for one on one care. He received his first of 5 consecutive days of chemo. He will stay in patient for the remainder of this round of chemotherapy.
After he is released he will be seen by the head of Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. This news was shocking not only to Brian, Jenn, his family and friends, but also his entire team of doctors and nurses. This is going to be an incredible fight, and much more than anyone could have imagined.
Brian and his wife Jenn have a three and a half year old son, and a daughter who turned 1 today. They are terrified and devastated, but ready to be strong and fight. On top of the astronomical medical bills they will face, they have a mortgage, car payments, and everyday bills to pay. Neither can work during this very difficult time.
Any contributions would be so much appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Carter
Organizer
Sedro-Woolley, WA
Jenn Justice
Beneficiary
