Support Scotty Owen's Fight Against Cancer

Scotty Owen has served many in our community on numerous occasions. He owns and rents Owen’s Landscaping and Occasions On The Go party and event rentals, both which require physical and manual labor to operate. He has been diagnosed with Testicular Cancer and undergoing treatment that has taken a physical and mental toll on his ability to work. He has a daughter, Natalie, who is a freshman in college, a two year old son, Nathan, who is in daycare, and a wife, Kelly, who is a music teacher in Danville Public Schools. Although, they have been able to keep things going as much as possible, the toll of Scotty being out of work has become more encumbering on the family, especially with not knowing the extent of what he will be able to do physically as treatment goes on, and also with Kelly having to miss a full week, and multiple additional days for his care. He has undergone three surgeries during the weeks prior to starting chemotherapy, which put his body in overload when he started. Creating an adverse reaction, which made him too ill to continue with the first round of treatment. Many people have asked how can they help, which can be daunting when someone is not sure how to answer that or even know what they need help with. Prayers and words of support are definitely encouraged to keep coming and felt by all. A Meal Train has been created, because every little bit can help when being too overwhelmed. Another way, some people choose to show support is through monetary donating, so that needs can be met throughout treatment. Whether it’s snacks during treatment, help with travel expenses, or even help paying a bill. Whatever your heart guides you to do, the family appreciates the love and support in every little and big way!

to understand the events and timeline of his diagnosis, here are the details:

On July 27, 2024, Scotty was experiencing extreme pain down his left abdomen, lower back, and groin. The hospital ran tests and admitted him that day to administer IV antibiotics, major pain medication, and fluids for what was believed to be an abscess in the left testicle, creating pressure, inflammation, and excruciating pain. He was sent home from the hospital, and continued on oral antibiotics. However, still in pain on August 6, after an ultrasound and doctor visit, he was admitted to the hospital for an emergency orchiectomy surgery. The surgery went well, but the recovery was rough and he stayed in severe pain, making it hard to even walk.

On August 13, during a doctor’s visit, he was informed the bad news – he has Testicular Cancer, and it showed what was removed during surgery. It was a large tumor which was sent to UVA for further studies.

On August 26th, his doctor in Danville said that his cancer is an unusual type that blood work doesn’t always detect. CT scans to check lymph nodes were completed and checked out as well, showing some small nodules detected on his lungs. After meeting with an oncologist at UVA that specializes in his cancer type, it was determined that the scan results and lung nodules were not of significance to start any treatment. He would be put on surveillance with scans and bloodwork every 3 to 4 months, and regular communication with his doctor.

A scan done December 26th showed that the lung nodules were growing. The oncologist at UVA met with him to say at this growth rate, he needed to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. With a scheduled oral surgery for implants, he considered postponing that surgery, however, with risk of having some infected teeth, it was decided by his oncologist and dentist to follow through with the oral surgery before starting chemotherapy. Oral surgery was supposed to take one day, but along with severe pain there were complications. Including one of the implants puncturing through to his sinus cavity. This required a sudden halt on the surgery, followed by another one day surgery to remove the implant through his sinus cavity by an ENT doctor. A week later, another oral surgery was conducted, by removing the remaining teeth that could be complicating during chemo treatment.

these three procedures, leading up to the start of chemotherapy, really took a toll on him mentally and physically. It put his body in overdrive, not having time to recover from one trauma before going through another trauma. On February 10, the start of EP chemotherapy ( one week on – two weeks off for four 21 day cycles ), things went well. However, after day three, Scotty got extremely sick. Thursday and Friday he was reacting so bad to the medication‘s, that he could not even do treatment for being so weak and I’m unable to function. He has plans to continue with treatment as much as his health and well-being can tolerate it.