Back in May, the last thing on 25-year-old Caden Jackson’s mind was that he would be diagnosed with cancer after waking up one morning with the left side of his face swollen.
But following an October surgery to remove a mass -a “large knot” as a physician first described to him – from behind his ear that was believed to be result of an ear canal infection – the awful thought perhaps began to creep in more and more after what was expected to be a one or two-hour surgery stretched out to five. And the worries became impossible to completely ignore after the mass was sent to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for evaluation.
The results were as feared. Jackson had cancer. But as he heard the explanation, it yet seemed even more inexplicable: the official diagnosis was Oncocytic Carcinoma, among the rarest of cancers. Doctors told Jackson only 17 people are known, worldwide, to have been diagnosed with that illness since it was discovered in 1953– and Jackson, by far, is the youngest among them, 19 years younger than the previous youngest diagnosis of a 44-year-old.
“Physically, honestly, I feel normal most of the time,” said Jackson. “I have certain days where I’ll have headaches. My smile, following the surgery, the nerves were wrapped around the mass and had to be detached from it, so sometimes my lip may droop for a little while and come back up later. I still can’t feel the left side of my face. They say it could take a year, or it could never come back.”
Not much is known about the illness. It can be aggressive, and even after a tumor is removed, as Jackson’s was, there’s a chance it can regenerate in another part of his body. As result, he will begin undergoing radiation treatment following Christmas.
He said doctors are optimistic, giving him a prognosis of 80 to 90 percent, though he will have to be evaluated on a consistent basis through follow up appointments for many years as the illness could come back.
It means a lot of travel for Jackson, who along with his family made their home in St. Charles Parish before they moved back to their native Tennessee to care for his grandmother, who had fallen ill and has since passed away. MD Anderson is his lone option for treatment.
“They’re the only hospital to have ever even seen this type of cancer, and the only ones comfortable enough to treat it,” Jackson said.
But as he lives in Tennessee, that can create some complications. For example, Jackson must have his wisdom teeth removed before he can undergo treatment; that will have to be back in Tennessee, as he could find no oral surgeon who could accept his insurance in Texas.
He tries to keep a positive outlook, despite the very unexpected hurdles. But it’s not always easy, he admits.
“I do have those days … the first thing that goes through your mind is, ‘could this be the end?’ Jackson said. “If I’ll recover, how long will it take me and then how long until I can have a normal life again. I’m extremely lucky to have an amazing support system. My family’s been there with me every step of the way. My boss paid for my hotel room in Houston … if not for that support system, I’d probably be a lot worse off than I am now.”
Part of that support system are Sandra Hoffman and Kathy O’Neil, both of St. Charles Parish. They set up a GoFundMe page (Help Caden Jackson fight a rare cancer) to help offset Jackson’s medical costs.
“They’re like second mothers to me,” said Jackson.
The costs go beyond the hospital bills – he cannot return to work until his treatment is complete, and he cannot collect unemployment in Tennessee.
“They told me you have to be able and willing to work to get unemployment there,” Jackson said. “You have to apply for jobs and if a job is offered, you have to accept it. So in my case, I’m willing to work, but I’m not able to work.”
It leaves him without income while medical and travel costs are piling up, and in the face of great uncertainty.
Jackson works as a bartender and has been studying psychology as a college student. He is one of six children. After graduating high school, he moved to St. Charles Parish to follow his parents, as his father moved to the area for work. He said they fell in love with the area and all of its people, and he travels back as often as possible to what he says is his second home.
“(His family) is very strong … of course we all have breakdown points,” Jackson said. “We’re a very tight knit family. We’re taking each day, day by day, and taking each step together.”
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