Vancouver cancer patient keeps up the fight

Jessica and Tony MacDougall were hoping for just a tumor-sized road bump. What they got was a mountainous cancer diagnosis.

The Vancouver couple learned in November that Tony had a pineal brain tumor sitting between his cerebellum and brain. But Tony, who recently turned 30, was young and healthy. Doctors were confident surgery to remove the tumor would be successful, and that whatever couldn’t be removed could be wiped out with radiation.

But biopsy results in December revealed what nobody expected: Tony had brain cancer.

“We were completely in shock,” said Jessica MacDougall.

Tony was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme — the most common and most aggressive form of primary malignant brain tumor, according to the Mayo Clinic. Glioblastomas arise from the star-shaped cells that make up the supportive tissue of the brain and grow at a rapid rate.

“The prognosis is pretty grim,” Jessica said. “Wasn’t quite the tumor-sized road bump we were hoping for.”

Three doctors have told the MacDougalls that the average survival time with treatment is just 18 months. Without treatment, it’s only four months.

“They all hate giving us bad news because Tony is so young,” Jessica said.

Treatment takes toll

After surgery, Tony underwent six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. He also began therapies to counter the physical and mental deficits caused by the surgery. He still struggles with balance, vision and memory issues, as well as problems with his executive thinking, which is his ability to plan and see into the future.

Tony is now on a powerful oral chemotherapy drug called Temodar. He takes the medication for five days, then has 23 days off. Tony is on the maximum dose possible and will remain on the drug for at least the next year.

“This drug is awful,” Jessica said. “It totally runs Tony down for the days of and the days following. It seems just as he starts to get his energy back, it’s time to start the five days again.”

Every two months, Tony has an MRI to track the tumor. The most recent scan in April showed that everything is stable. The tumor, measuring 5-by-5-by-7-millimeters, is just as the surgeons left it in November, Jessica said.

“We’re happy with the results,” Jessica said. “This means the chemo medication he is on is controlling the cancer growth for now and is keeping it from spreading. We would be happier with tumor shrinkage, but we’ll take the results we got.”

“Anything is better than growth,” she said.

The aggressive treatment is taking a toll on Tony. He’s tired and has little endurance. He can typically be out of the house for about three hours before he gets too tired to speak. When he’s taking the chemo drug, he can sleep up to 20 hours a day.

Tony met with a naturopath recently and will start a course of high-dose vitamin C via IV, as well as another therapy, to try to increase his energy levels and immune system. The therapies will cost the couple about $1,000 per month.

Tony may also begin some additional therapies recommended by his neuro-opthamologist to help with the vision issues, but that will likely be dependent on whether Tony has any remaining therapy visits under his health insurance. If not, the therapy will be too expensive to pay out of pocket, Jessica said.

Despite everything, Tony remains positive and upbeat, Jessica said.

“He never complains, feels sorry for himself or acts out when he has every right to,” she said. “On the hard days, where he can barely get around the house, he just says, ‘Wow, my body is really kicking this cancer’s butt today.’ ”

“He’s amazing,” she said.

Jessica, however, said she struggles to cope with Tony’s diagnosis and prognosis.

“I’m the one that’s angry all the time,” she said. “I just can’t believe this is happening. He’s the best man I’ve ever known, and the least deserving person of this horrible disease.”

“My husband is fighting for his life every day,” she said.

After receiving the cancer diagnosis, Jessica asked Tony what was on his bucket list. He told her he had always wanted to swim with dolphins, so Jessica booked a cruise with a dolphin excursion.

In March, while in Cabo San Lucas, Tony crossed the dolphin swim off of his bucket list. He and Jessica also took a cooking class on salsa — one of Tony’s favorites.

More destinations

The couple has a few more destinations on their list, such as Leavenworth to visit friends. They also hope to take a trip with their brothers, if Tony’s health allows, Jessica said.

Before discovering the brain tumor, Tony, an Army veteran, was set to begin his career as a paramedic with Clark County American Medical Response. The cancer diagnosis forced him to walk away from the opportunity.

Jessica and Tony had also hoped to start a family. That has since been put on hold. A year from now, if everything looks promising, maybe they’ll revisit it, Jessica said.

“We don’t want to put our lives on hold for the cancer, but we also understand how deadly this cancer truly is and the risks it holds,” she said.

“We’re not in denial about what the situation is,” she said, “we’re just trying not to let it hold us back.”