Join Alex's Fight Against Cancer
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Around early May of 2015, Alex began to experience severe pain in his right shoulder. The pain was accompanied with noticeable swelling and a significant decrease in his arm’s range of motion. The next few weeks were flooded with numerous doctors’ appointments and diagnostic imaging in which a tumor in his proximal humerus bone was discovered.
“So, it turns out I have cancer,” my brother replied, his voice cracking over the phone. I recall this day vividly. This couldn’t be happening, I thought. I felt my heart drop to my stomach as I waited for my little brother to tell me he was kidding.
On June 3rd, 2015, Alex was officially diagnosed with high-grade conventional chrondroblastic osteosarcoma, a very rare cancer that yielded him less than a 40% chance of surviving 5 years with conventional therapy.
Alex’s diagnosis was overwhelming for our entire family. We researched, prayed, and cried even more. It shook our lives – roles, responsibilities, and priorities changed overnight and they continue to change throughout his treatment.
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Osteosarcoma is an aggressive and painful form of cancer. Alex underwent several rounds of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy given before surgery) in hopes to reduce the size of the tumor to safely remove it from his shoulder and to salvage his limb. Unfortunately, the tumor did not respond well to the chemo and was met with less than 5% of necrosis (cell death).

Our team of doctors informed us that it would be too risky to attempt salvaging Alex’s arm as remnants of the cancer could remain and come back more aggressively. A forequarter amputation (amputation of his arm, scapula, and clavicle) was advised by the doctors to remove the tumor. The amputation was performed on September 29th, 2015 without any complications.
Despite the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and amputation, we discovered in November that Alex’s cancer had unfortunately metastasized - progressing to Stage IV - and multiple tumors were found in both of his lungs. Alex immediately began chemotherapy and after three rounds the CT scan revealed that some of the lung nodules had shrunk in size and no new ones had developed.
Alex underwent surgery on his right lung on April 1st, 2016 to remove the most prominent of the nodules. Surgery was successful and our focus has now shifted to the left lung.
As you can see, there is no framework or set course of treatment for Alex. We recognize this may be a long journey and we need your help. My dad has returned to work during this time (having taken some family leave) while my mom quit her job in order to care for Alex full-time. Given the mounting medical expenses, Alex’s unexpected diagnosis and treatments have put a financial strain on my family. Insurance has covered a portion of our medical bills, but the remaining medical expenses and other indirect costs such as lifestyle changes and dietary restrictions continue to add up.
Any support you can offer is very much appreciated – it all makes a difference and helps Alex out tremendously. Your prayers, messages, thoughts, and good vibes are all just as important and they mean so much to Alex and our family. There are so many people that have helped Alex and our family in so many different ways and I cannot express how loved and supported you all have made us feel.

Thank you so much for your support! I will be posting updates on here throughout Alex’s battle against cancer.
With love,
Kathy
“So, it turns out I have cancer,” my brother replied, his voice cracking over the phone. I recall this day vividly. This couldn’t be happening, I thought. I felt my heart drop to my stomach as I waited for my little brother to tell me he was kidding.
On June 3rd, 2015, Alex was officially diagnosed with high-grade conventional chrondroblastic osteosarcoma, a very rare cancer that yielded him less than a 40% chance of surviving 5 years with conventional therapy.
Alex’s diagnosis was overwhelming for our entire family. We researched, prayed, and cried even more. It shook our lives – roles, responsibilities, and priorities changed overnight and they continue to change throughout his treatment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive and painful form of cancer. Alex underwent several rounds of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy given before surgery) in hopes to reduce the size of the tumor to safely remove it from his shoulder and to salvage his limb. Unfortunately, the tumor did not respond well to the chemo and was met with less than 5% of necrosis (cell death).
Our team of doctors informed us that it would be too risky to attempt salvaging Alex’s arm as remnants of the cancer could remain and come back more aggressively. A forequarter amputation (amputation of his arm, scapula, and clavicle) was advised by the doctors to remove the tumor. The amputation was performed on September 29th, 2015 without any complications.
Despite the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and amputation, we discovered in November that Alex’s cancer had unfortunately metastasized - progressing to Stage IV - and multiple tumors were found in both of his lungs. Alex immediately began chemotherapy and after three rounds the CT scan revealed that some of the lung nodules had shrunk in size and no new ones had developed.
Alex underwent surgery on his right lung on April 1st, 2016 to remove the most prominent of the nodules. Surgery was successful and our focus has now shifted to the left lung.
As you can see, there is no framework or set course of treatment for Alex. We recognize this may be a long journey and we need your help. My dad has returned to work during this time (having taken some family leave) while my mom quit her job in order to care for Alex full-time. Given the mounting medical expenses, Alex’s unexpected diagnosis and treatments have put a financial strain on my family. Insurance has covered a portion of our medical bills, but the remaining medical expenses and other indirect costs such as lifestyle changes and dietary restrictions continue to add up.
Any support you can offer is very much appreciated – it all makes a difference and helps Alex out tremendously. Your prayers, messages, thoughts, and good vibes are all just as important and they mean so much to Alex and our family. There are so many people that have helped Alex and our family in so many different ways and I cannot express how loved and supported you all have made us feel.
Thank you so much for your support! I will be posting updates on here throughout Alex’s battle against cancer.
With love,
Kathy
Organizer
Kathy Young
Organizer
Mission Viejo, CA
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