Elijah's cancer

Feb. 1, 2025

Hi, everyone!

I want to thank all who have been supporting me over the past few weeks! What a gift you all have been! It makes this process so much more bearable.

Here's a quick timeline of what has happened so far:

1/7: Initial visit with primary care doctor. Noticed lump and some pain in right testicle.

1/9: Ultrasound showed a tumor in my right testicle

1/21-22: Urologist ordered bloodwork and CT scan which confrimed cancer has spread to abdominal lymph nodes.

1/28: Fertility preservation

1/30: orchiectomy to remove the cancerous testicle.

Next Steps:

2/??: Biopsy results will identify details needed to help oncology create a chemo regiment. Biopsy results will also allow me to schedule a pulminary exam and port insertion, both required before chemo.

2/13: Post-Op visit with urology

2/18: Oncology consultation. Chemo will likely start before March.

Again, I am so blessed to have such an amazing support system! Thank you all for your encouragement!

I plan to add more updates here as time goes on, so keep an eye out!

Elijah Nix

Feb 7, 2025

Biopsy Results, Orchi Recovery, Etc

BIOPSY RESULTS

With the results of the biopsy, I now have more info regarding likely treatment methods! Of course, everything I know at this point is from my own research, so my oncologist may tell me something different when I meet with him.

This biopsy reveals some good news and some bad news.

Bad news first.

The biopsy revealed that the most prominent type of testicular cancer I have is teratoma. Teratoma is unfortunately unreceptive to chemo, so chemo alone will likely not be enough to cure me, which makes the process more complicated. I'll likely have to do chemo AND more surgery. Yuck.

HOWEVER, the good news is that the surgery I would need is highly effective and should hopefully still lead to cure. On top of that, my affected lymph nodes appear necrotic, which means a lot of the tumor is already dead. Furthermore, it's important to note that this type of testicular cancer is the slowest spreading, which is nice.

So, my unofficial prognosis remains positive. I really won't know much else until I meet with my doctors later on this month.

ORCHIECTOMY RECOVERY

It's been 8 days since my orchiectomy, and healing has gone very well. I can do most daily tasks without pain or discomfort, though I often still have to be gentle and slow. I won't be able to lift heavy objects for another 5 weeks, so no weightlifting or volleyball for me(😭)! Coughing, sneezing, and laughing still hurt a little bit, but not too bad.

The reality of having only one testicle still hasn't quite set in yet.

ETC

It has officially been one month since this whole process began, and, as you might expect, it's been a tough one. It has been an emotional rollercoaster.

This diagnosis feels like all I can ever think about. School, RUF, hobbies, church, etc only ever get a fraction of my attention now.

In general, anxiety often leads me to plan for the worst case scenario, and that often works well for me.

But with this diagnosis, the worst case scenario--though unlikely--is death. Death is scary and unknown, and the skeptic within me is haunted by the possibility that death really is the end.

The most helpful and life-giving piece of this journey so far has been spending time with a wide spectrum of people who love me and process this situation differently. Some of my friends joke about it; some of my friends are somber. Both reactions have been good.

The pastors in my life have engaged with my suffering so extremely well. There is something so real in the way these men sit with me in this chaos, and I am so thankful for that.

Thank you all for your kind messages. Even though I don't reply to many of them, I appreciate it.

Pray that I may have circumstance-defying peace as I continue this journey. Pray that I would trust in the goodness and truth of the gospel, and that this disease would invert itself into an unstoppable blessing.

Godspeed,

Elijah

Elijah

update

Elijah Nix

Feb 19, 2025

Oncology Update

I had my oncology consultation yesterday, and it went very well!

I was able to get my official staging (IIC like I had researched) and a plan for moving forward. I'll be getting 3-4 rounds of BEP chemo, and I start on March 10th.

In preparation, I'm getting a pulmonary exam, a port insertion, and at PET scan. I'll also be shaving my head in preparation for the hair loss.

I really like my oncologist and nurse navigator and feel like I'm in good hands.

I would LOVE to spend my treatment time with other people, so if you'll be in ABQ while I'm getting treatment and want to visit, shoot me a text!

Elijah Nix

Mar 9, 2025

Chemo Starts Tomorrow (And More)!

CHEMO BEGINS

Hello once again!

Welp, we've made it. My first infusion of BEP chemo is tomorrow. I'm feeling pretty nervous. Thankfully, some friends are planning on spending the week with me while I get treatment, so I'm looking forward to that.

I'll be getting about 5 hours of chemo per day for the next week, which makes this treatment pretty aggressive. I'll be taking precautions for nausea, neuropathy, immune deficiency, hearing loss, and fatigue.

Here's a playlist I made for treatment. Feel free to give it a listen!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fd2mutucaGg2QaxbV8FFT?si=ecabb34f41f74d52

According to my research, the best way to combat fatigue is with activity, so I plan to do a lot of walking in between infusions. I can also finally start lifting light weights again, so you better believe I'll be hitting the gym again!

PHOTOS

I've attached some photos to this post. Here are some descriptions:

1. Post-op for port placement. I totally understand why we have a fentynol crisis. That stuff is amazing🤤🤤

2. Kevin, Bridger, and Eddy Hartzell all shaved their heads to support me! So sweet!!! I Love this family!!!

3. My buddy Evan and I. Evan and his wife Annabel have been a God-send over the past few months. So thankful for their friendship!

4. Lucy Hartzell on my lap during the Super Bowl. Friends Aiden and Ariana next to me.

5. Pre-op for orchiectomy. Stayin' positive!

6. At my mom's house after orchiectomy. Mom gave me some stuffed testicles to commemorate the occasion😂😂.

Please continue to pray for me! The power of prayer has never felt as real as it does now. The biggest thing you can pray for right now is that the side effects of chemo would be minimal. Also pray for effective treatment and peace of mind!

RUF INTERNSHIP

As some of you know, I've accepted a position with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) to work as a campus intern at Virginia Tech starting next fall! This ministry position involves connecting with students in groups and in one-on-ones, leading and planning ministry events, a personal study program, attending ministry trainings, and bragging about Jesus!

One huge part of this position is fundraising! Not only do I fundraise my whole salary, but also funds used for ministry purposes. It's a TON of money to fundraise, but I'm confident I can do it!

In the next few weeks, I'll be sending out announcement letters to friends and family, officially letting them know about the details of my position.

Once I've done that, I'll likely reach out to people individually asking them if they want to be ministry partners, so stay tuned!

This is really exciting for me because I'll get to share all the amazing things RUF has been for me as well as all the amazing things God has done and is doing through the ministry.

Thank you all for your continued support during this extremely hard time. Godspeed!

Elijah Nix

Mar 16, 2025

First Week of Chemo COMPLETE!

Hi gang!

My first week of infusions is over, and boy was it intense!

I'm sure this goes without saying, but this chemo feels AWFUL. The worst side effects were not ones I expected.

On day 3, I found myself having crazy hiccups! This paired with acid reflux put a strain on my throat, and makes swallowing harder. Luckily, I've found that eating ginger really helps, and I carry a little bag around wherever I go just in case.

Another side effect has been depression and anxiety. Not only does the treatment affect your psyche, but it also restricts where you go and what you can do. I can feel trapped and activities that used to feel fun don't. I'll be starting some medication soon to help combat these.

Changes in hearing have also been stressing me out. Tennitus and hearing loss are common side effects to my type of chemo, which is scary. I've noticed some changes in hearing and I'm seeing a ENT soon to establish next steps regarding treatment.

Days 3-8 were by far the hardest. However, I'm hopeful that I can use what I've learned to make future cycles more bearable.

I have one more short infusion on the 24th and then I start a new cycle on the 31st.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned over the past few weeks has been the impoartance of mind-over-matter thinking. If you lean into the suckiness of the treatment, that's all you will feel. If you try to live everyday as normal as you can, you'll feel better.

Please continue to pray for me! Pray that this chemo would be effective, that the side effects would lessen, and that I would build up enough strength before my next cycle to bear it well.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

vicisti galilaee!

Elijah Nix

Mar 31, 2025

Cycle 2 Starts!

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.

Lol

Hi again! I've got some GREAT news for you guys!

I recently got some blood work done that shows my tumor markers are going DOWN, which means the chemo is WORKING!!🎉🎉🎉

So even though the treatment is hard, it's nice to know that it's working!

I spent 6 days in the hospital last week with neutropenic fever. All better now. I had great nurses and techs along the way.

I start my second cycle today. I'm a bit nervous, but having already gone through one cycle, I know what to expect and can plan for the side effects.

School is going well. I've been able to coordinate with professors and I will very likely graduate as planned.

Keep praying!