Support Bowie Hutcheson!

Bowie is a 23 year old young man just beginning his adult life when he was stricken by cancer- Advanced (latest stage) testicular cancer which presented itself as a huge tumor (16 x 16 x 13cm) in the mediastinal (chest) cavity. It had spread and is growing in his liver, and spine. Doctors now tell us the prognosis is 10% given the site of the primary tumor, the size, and the metastatic growth. They cannot operate to remove the large tumor because the cancer is actively growing elsewhere.

They recently met with medical professionals on the decision not to operate and what comes next. They started out by asking them to explain in their words why they wouldn’t operate on the mass in Bowie’s chest. They explained that surgery (and radiation too) would be considered “localized” treatment and precision-like actions to take when cancer had been tamped down (controlled) and was not growing. They said the significant activity in the liver leads him to believe it is also elsewhere in the body. Surgery wouldn’t cure him or slow the spread.

So what now??? He said the plan should be: Two rounds of new chemo.

If chemo is successful in lowering cancer levels, then stem-cell replacement could be attempted (though he said it had not been shown to be successful with this particular cancer).

If chemo is unsuccessful in lowering cancer levels, then stem-cell replacement would be off the table bc it is a high-dose chemo treatment and we need to know/show that cancer is being responsive to chemo generally before taking the high-dose form

At this point, we’d turn to clinical trials and the regular care plan would be palliative.

Obviously this is heavy stuff and we are digesting as best we can at this moment. We do continue to hope and believe in a positive outcome- through chemo, stem-cell replacement, or clinical trials. Bowie is so strong of mind and of spirit. Just now he happily watched (on his phone) his beloved Arsenal soccer club play a game.

We will attempt to leave for home as soon as possible. Bowie understandably wants to get out of here. More than ever now, he wants to travel… to live and see places. I want this for him too. Hopefully he will get to take some time soon for travel.

Bowie’s leave of absence from work will continue indefinitely, though the medical professionals said at some point (when all treatments have been exhausted and he is In palliative stage), he may choose to go back. All a Bowie decision regarding his “quality of life”.

We appreciate everyone's support and keeping Bowie in their thoughts and prayers.

#teambowie

#bowiestrong

#fuckcancer