December 12th, 2024:

This is the day I found out I was diagnosed with Cancer.

Getting told …you have cancer… at age 20 is not something you expect to hear. I went from skiing every weekend to finding a lump on my neck. At first I thought it was just a tight muscle, but decided to get it checked out at my school's health center.

I walked into that appointment thinking it would just be gone in a couple days. The doctor ran all their usual tests, asking questions about my life, your typical doctor's appointment. Then they became quite concerned. Making confused looks and poking left and right at this lump, they sat back down and asked me,

“What's your family history with cancer?” and followed that with, “I want you to get your bloodwork done, an X Ray, ultrasound, maybe a PET scan, and maybe a biopsy.”

Now I was concerned. It was a typical Monday afternoon, I had class in an hour. Why do I need all these tests?

“I've scheduled you for a follow up appointment tomorrow at a different office, they should be able to tell you more. Today I’ll just have your bloodwork done and an X ray.”

I was just so confused. What the fuck could this possibly be?

Eager to figure all this out, I drove to the next appointment after a sleepless night to get an ultrasound. And of course, they scheduled me to come back the next day for a biopsy.

I drove back, took their samples, and told me, “Alright we should have the results back in about 2 weeks.”

2 weeks??? I was pissed. It was a Wednesday and Finals were in a week. This is the last thing I needed hanging over my head. I was just so mad. I wanted answers and I wanted this seemingly small thing to be done.

Now it was Thursday, 1 more day until my lumpy week was over. I tried to reset myself. I got back from my last class around 4pm. I somehow had gotten my mind off this week's worth of stress and my roommate and I made plans to go to the climbing gym. We started driving to the gym and my phone rang.

It was the doc.

“Hey Colin, is this a good time? We got your biopsy results early and the sample came back aligning with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.”

It was Thursday, December 12th. I was told I had cancer. 20 fucking years old and I had cancer.

We didn’t end up climbing that evening. I went back to my apartment, called my parents, and we started booking appointments at Dana Farber.

Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The last two years it had been the place I raised money for so I could participate in the PMC. A place I had never visited but was so proud to support.

Attending my first appointments, I was now able to see how much the PMC truly impacts DF. Starting my new normal of regular appointments, the quality of the facilities and care provided by each employee goes above and beyond my expectations. Everyone is there to help. I have never met more devoted, passionate, and kind people in my entire life.

My scans determined that I have stage 3/4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was to start chemotherapy the first week in January and complete 6 rounds with infusions every two weeks.

It is anticipated that I will enter remission in June. This leaves me a little more than 1 month to train for the PMC.

I will be riding this August.

Continuing this year, I am again riding under Team Brainstorm. My team rides for Declan, a 7 year old who was diagnosed with a pediatric low grade glioma in March of 2019. So far Declan has had 3 brain surgeries, gone through 18 months of chemotherapy, multiple MRIs, and has had over 500 seizures.Our team rides in honor of Declan, as well as other children with Pediatric Low Grade Gliomas, especially ones with an FGFR1 mutation. Our funds are put into the Declan Vail BrainStorms for a Cure fund, and 100% of money we raise go to Bando Labs at Dana Farber. Dr. Mimi Bandopadhayay.

I am beyond grateful to be able to receive treatment through Dana Farber and I ask that you consider making a donation to my page so that one day there is a cure and no one has to go through this fight.

Any amount helps towards a cure. I look forward to riding this summer with your support and I am even more excited to ride as a cancer survivor.

Please feel free to checkout the Gallery tab above as I update my profile with photos through treatment