This page is dedicated to sharing updates about my incredible husband, Dan. Below is our story.
Earlier this year, Dan began to experience low back pain. Unfortunately, his “old-man back pain,” as he described it, persisted and later intensified, radiating to his upper abdomen. It became so severe and atypical that on May 19, he visited his own Emergency Department for imaging, hoping to ease our minds and “rule out the bad stuff.”
Unfortunately, that was not the case. The CT scan revealed “bulky peri-aortic adenopathy,” most consistent with lymphoma. The news was shocking, but with the support of friends and family (including our medical school family), we were quickly on our way to see a close friend and oncologist, who made time for us despite a full schedule. He reviewed the scans, ordered additional bloodwork, and arranged for more testing. We left the office feeling hopeful - lymphoma is typically treatable and offered the opportunity for a cure. We clung to that hope.
On May 20, Dan underwent a full-body PET-CT scan. It revealed cancerous lymph nodes in the neck, chest, and abdomen—again, most consistent with lymphoma. No obvious organ involvement or primary tumor was identified. The innumerable lymph nodes in his abdomen likely explained his ongoing pain. On May 22, an interventional radiology-guided biopsy of one of Dan’s peri-aortic lymph nodes was performed. Biopsy tissue is critical in determining the type of cancer and the best course of treatment. At that point, we were primarily concerned with whether it would be Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as this remained the most likely diagnosis.
However, on Friday, May 23, we received some more unfortunate news. The preliminary pathology was most consistent with metastatic adenocarcinoma. What? How could this be? I knew at that moment that everything had changed. We were no longer facing a potentially curable lymphoma, but a metastatic cancer with significant spread. As medical professionals, we understood the implications and potential prognosis of this diagnosis.
The 3-day wait for the final pathology over the Memorial Day weekend was tough. Dan worked what would be his last ED shift for a while. It was also our daughter, Cosette’s, birthday weekend. Dan’s partners graciously covered his upcoming shifts as we prepared for the weeks testing/procedures and did our best to devote our attention to the birthday girl.
Tuesday, May 27, finally arrived. Our dear friend had to deliver the kind of news no one ever wants to hear - or give. The diagnosis was confirmed: metastatic adenocarcinoma, with suspicion that the primary cancer is gastrointestinal in origin (possibly pancreas, biliary, stomach, intestine, or colon). We were introduced to the concept of CUP—Cancer of Unknown Primary—which, surprisingly, affects 2–4% of people with cancer. Because the primary tumor is difficult to identify, the treatment becomes more complicated. Our oncologist informed us that we needed more data and assured us that Dan would beat the odds. We believe this, too.
That week was one of the hardest of our lives. At times, even standing up felt like a challenge. With God’s help, we pushed forward - helping our girls finish the school year and staying strong for them. Each day, we felt God guiding us and walking beside us in this darkness.
On Thursday, May 29, Dan had a port placed. This is a central line used to administer chemotherapy and draw blood, sparing his arms from the countless needle sticks. The procedure went well, but we received some more difficult news afterwards. A tumor marker associated with pancreatic cancer came back quite elevated. The cancer was now suspected to be pancreatobiliary adenocarcinoma.
The next day, Dan had a brain MRI to check for any spread to his brain. It came back normal - a small but much-needed victory. That weekend, we told our daughters. It was one of the toughest moments of this journey. There were many tears, but our girls showed incredible strength. Together, we committed to trusting God’s plan, even if we don’t fully understand it. We prayed for strength and guidance through the storm ahead.
On June 2, Dan underwent an EGD and colonoscopy - both of which were thankfully normal. On June 3, he had an excisional biopsy of a lymph node in his neck. On June 4, he underwent an endoscopic ultrasound to better visualize his pancreas and biliary tree. All appeared normal, and additional biopsies were taken from the lymph nodes in his chest and abdomen. This past weekend, we celebrated our eldest child, Cecily, turning 9!
And that brings us to today - Dan’s first day of chemotherapy. He will be on a regimen called mFOLFIRINOX for the next four months. This is an aggressive chemotherapy protocol that may cause significant side effects and make him feel unwell. The schedule and medications limit his ability to work in the emergency department, which is especially hard for him because he truly loves his job and his colleagues. He hopes to continue his medical leadership roles as able.
The past three weeks have been difficult for our family - an emotional rollercoaster. But through it all, we continue to feel God’s presence, lifting us up and carrying us through each day. We are incredibly grateful for our medical team who have stood by us with compassion, prayer, and unwavering support.
Though Dan’s cancer may never be “curable,” we will treat it with every available tool. We are praying for a miraculous healing that only God can provide. Dan has many things working in his favor—he is in excellent health otherwise, he’s young, and there is no evidence of spread to other major organs like the liver. Most notably, Dan carries a BRCA1 gene mutation. While this may have contributed to the development of his cancer, it could also improve his response to treatment. BRCA1-associated cancers have historically shown better outcomes with chemotherapy, and with continued scientific advancements, new targeted therapies may become available to help fight his disease. We pray that the cancer is sensitive to chemotherapy, that his body tolerates the treatment well, that his molecular profiling reveals promising targets for future therapies, and most of all, for strength for our family during this time.
We have been overwhelmed with love and support from our friends and family. We could not walk this path alone. We truly feel that God is placing people in our lives to help us in our time of need. Thank you to all of you - you know who you are.
I will continue to post updates as things change. In two months, Dan will undergo repeat imaging to assess for tumor shrinkage. We appreciate your prayers and support.
