Allan’s life changed in an instant. He was out to dinner, celebrating the start of a new job in Alzheimer’s research, when he suddenly felt unwell. As he stood to excuse himself, he lost consciousness and fell down a flight of stairs. Moments later, he was rushed to a local hospital, where he received a diagnosis that few have ever heard of: central neurocytoma, an extremely rare brain tumor.
Brain cancer survivors used to keep hope for better odds in the future. But without investment in cancer research, laboratories studying rare brain tumors, like my own, could be shut down
Just months later, on his 30th birthday, Allan underwent surgery. The procedure was successful in removing the tumor, but it left him with new challenges, including a temporary limp. Still, Allan was determined to rebuild his life.
During his recovery, he returned to research work with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. By the following summer, he was riding his bicycle across Iowa with his family. This return to an active life is the outcome that cancer research strives to create for every patient, and it’s only possible when research funding is protected and expanded.
Today, Allan channels his experience into advocacy. As a volunteer with ACS CAN, he regularly meets with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to push for stronger funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. For the past two years, he has been working to launch the first-ever advocacy group for central neurocytoma. Building on his research background, he is now pursuing a career in medicine, a path shaped by his journey as both a patient and a survivor.
Only in recent history have people with serious brain tumors like Allan’s had a real chance at survival. But there is still more work to do. Continued investment in cancer research gives patients that chance, the chance to live, recover, and give back, just like Allan has.