This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Dixon's Alan Anderson Beating Cancer With Stem Cell Treatment, Bone Marrow Transplant

Alan Anderson celebrates 25th birthday and new lease on life.

When someone wishes another person, “Happy Birthday,’ there are probably few 25-year-olds happier than Alan Anderson about being alive.

Although the local Dixonite, who just celebrated his birthday, kept an optimistic attitude, the last two years of cancer have been pretty grim. But now, it’s been six months of a new medical procedure that appears to have been effective in helping him beat it.

Alan was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer that had already spread to his abdomen and lung just two and a half years ago. Prior to that, he was at Sacramento Job Core learning carpentry and also attending classes at Solano Community College after graduating with Dixon High School’s Class of 2005.

Find out what's happening in Dixonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After surgeries and treatments, things were going well for Alan and in December 2010, doctors believed the cancer was gone, but not for long. In the spring of last year, there was another devastating discovery: Cancer had wrapped around his spine. Now there are four screws in the top of his spine and three at the bottom. The cancer also damaged one of his kidneys. There have been more surgeries, more treatments, and blood transfusions.

Last fall, doctors decided as a last-hope effort to harvest stem cells from Alan’s body, believing a bone marrow transplant gave the best possibility for Alan to fight off the cancer. So far, so good.

Find out what's happening in Dixonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I came home in November,” he said smiling broadly. “I’m walking way better, I got my license back, and I’m driving my car again. I go see my fiancé on the weekends. We are figuring out if we can get married. I know she wants to—that’s why I proposed.”

He brags that the only medication he is on is for a small cold since there’s some fluid around his heart and the doctors want to closely monitor him. Oh, and there is a hole in his hip from the radiation but besides that, he enthusiastically explains, all is good.

“As far as I know I haven’t got any negative results from the tests after the transplant and chemo. They’ve done a bone marrow biopsy and that was to see how the stem cells are growing in the middle and none of the results showed that any [cancer] was growing,” he said. His MRI and CAT Scan at Vacaville Kaiser also came back good. “It sounds like I’m on the road to recovery,” he said.

Like any responsible young man, Alan’s major concern now is the effect of his medical debt affecting what could be his ability to support a new wife. He is engaged to Pamela Cash, also from Dixon.

“He’s a fighter and he’s tough,” said Pam about Alan. “It’s been really hard but I know I’m stronger now. I do see us getting married and starting a family. He’s got a good personality and is kind to others—always volunteering.”

Pam and Alan met several years ago at and she has been studying Culinary Arts. She is interested in becoming a chef in a restaurant someday.

Alan’s plan for his future has to change because of his health limitations, he said.

“I have to figure out what I’m going to do--back to school or work. I can’t work in construction like I planned. I still have some recuperating to do. I have to get all my shots again at one year but I’m way healthier and I’m thinking about working at a Cancer Camp,” he said. “I know what they are going through because I’ve done it and I’m going to be a camp counselor next year.

In the meantime, he has to continue to get well and that includes “keeping positive people around” and staying hydrated.

“An average American is supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day which comes to about an gallon. If I don’t get a gallon, I’m in trouble,” he said. “So I have to work to finish at least three Gatorades a day or four 32-oz bottles a day. That is key more than anything. If it weren’t for my mom and my brother on my butt all the time, I probably wouldn’t even be here. I’ve learned to keep a case of Gatorade in the trunk. I keep one in the car and one at home.”  He also must be steadfast to eat three meals a day.

The positive people, Alan talks about are his family and friends from his church.

“Larry Waits came and visited me a lot and so did our pastor, Frank Salamone,  Ken Martin, and Ken Wildone. I could talk to them about anything,” he said sounding deeply appreciative. “And my family and my fiancé. Pam stayed almost six weeks hanging out with my mom and me more than anything. She’s been with me almost the whole time.”

Liz Robben, also of Cornerstone and an organizer of support for Alan, wanted to remind the community about Alan’s ongoing financial needs.

“We still have the account, “Hope in Action” and we sell T-shirts for $10 with proceeds that helps go to defray the expenses that Alan and his family are incurring,” she said.

Donations to Cornerstone’s Cancer Fund are welcomed by sending a check to the church noting “cancer fund” in the memo line. Mail to 185 Cherry St., Dixon, CA  95620. The church tax identification number is 68-0268912. Their phone number is (707) 678-5234.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Dixon