DENVER – Ben Brewer is ready to fight, again.
The 14-year-old boy who bravely chose to have liquid radiation injected into his body in 2014 to destroy his cancer is now facing the diagnosis again. This is Ben's fourth relapse. He was first diagnosed when he was 2 years old, meaning he has lived with cancer 11 of his 14 years.
Ben has neuroblastoma which most commonly affects children. The cancer started in Ben's adrenal glands, and over the years, it has recurred in various areas of his body. This type of cancer is one that always returns.
Ben used traditional chemotherapy to fight the cancer at first. When it recurred for the third time in 2014, Ben chose to have liquid radiation injected into his body at Children's Hospital Colorado. That seemed to work, since, afterwards, there was no evidence of cancer.
While waiting for access to a vaccine that promises to keep neuroblastoma away for good, Ben went to New York City every month for most of this year to have a therapy designed to keep him healthy. He finished the therapy last week, and as he prepared to leave New York, he went through one more round of scans on Sept. 21. Ben was expecting to get word that he was still cancer-free.
However, scans showed a spot on his leg. Ben and his mother, Sarah Washburn Brewer, flew back to Denver immediately
On Sept. 25, Ben went through another round of scans and tests at Children's Hospital Colorado. By the end of the day, Ben learned there were five small spots of cancer back in his body: in his right collarbone, in his right orbital bone, in his right femur, i his lower back and in his left kidney.
On Monday, the Brewer family met with Ben's oncologist, Dr. Meg Macy at Children's Hospital Colorado. She told them there are several options to consider. The family is doing research and trying to decide what's best for Ben.
Ben is remaining very stoic, reflective and positive in light of this new diagnosis. He's also joking around a bit, saying he doesn't want to lose his red eyebrows again from chemotherapy. His red hair and freckles and wise soul are what have endeared so many to this young boy.
The family is so grateful for the outpouring of support they receive over social media especially through the "I Love the Bean" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/I-love-The-Bean-214239098661615/timeline/.
Ben's family also posts updates on his YouCaring page: http://bit.ly/1GeVpwQ. As anyone might imagine, the financial toll of fighting cancer over 12 years has added financial stress to the emotional stress.
To learn more about Ben's journey over this last year, here are past 9NEWS stories:
(© 2015 KUSA)
