Cancer Survivor Story: Celebrating the Ringing of the Bells

Patients with cancer often ring a ceremonious bell to celebrate the end of their radiation treatment or chemotherapy.

At Lee Health Cancer Institute, it’s a glorious sound that resounds throughout the Institute so everyone can share the good news. But more importantly, it’s the sound of hope for others still undergoing treatment.  

Jon DeWitt knows the tradition of cancer survivors ringing the bell well. Because he’s lost family members to the disease, he’s moved by stories of people who have survived cancer. Some years ago, he bought and donated bells to Lee Health Cancer Institute so survivors could ring of their success.

“I’ve always liked seeing the stories of people beating cancer,” Jon says. “It feels good to be able to donate something to help somebody celebrate their story.”

He had no idea, of course, that one day he would ring one of the bells he’d donated. In recognition of National Cancer Survivors Month, we share Jon’s experience, strength, and hope as a cancer survivor. 

Jon’s journey begins

Jon DeWitt wasn’t expecting a cancer diagnosis. No one does. At 34, he was young and in good shape, fine-tuned physically by his demanding job as a fiber optic technician digging into the ground and climbing heights. He’s also an avid hockey fan and plays the sport recreationally, which is hardly the typical interest of someone native to Fort Lauderdale, where the ocean never freezes.

But Jon isn’t your typical person. What he would eventually go through required incredible courage, fortitude, and perseverance.

Jon’s cancer journey began a year ago, in October when he felt a mass on the side of his left testicle. For months, he’d been feeling discomfort in his groin area but brushed off the pain with the mindset common to hockey players—lose a few teeth, put ‘em in your pocket, and keep playing. 

But when the mass developed, along with the pain, Jon shared it with his wife, Mika, who agreed that her husband should get it checked out immediately. 

Jon scheduled an evaluation with Dr. Joseph Klink, a board-certified urologic oncologist with the Lee Health Cancer Institute.

After undergoing a series of diagnostic and imaging tests, including an ultrasound of his scrotum, Jon was diagnosed with seminoma, a type of testicular cancer that originates from the germ cells responsible for producing sperm. 

A computed tomography (CT) scan of his abdomen and chest not only confirmed the diagnosis but also showed the cancer had spread to his lungs and stomach.

Not one to complain about his aches and pains (remember, he’s a hockey player), Jon’s diagnosis threw him for a loop, especially because he’s young.

"For one minute, if you feel pain from something, you might think it’s not a big deal. Maybe it’s just a fatty deposit or something. But the next thing you know, somebody's giving you the C-word, that kind of freaks you out a little bit," Jon admits. “At 34, you don’t expect to hear that.”

READ: Cancer cases in younger people are rising sharply

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is an uncommon disease, representing about 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed in men. It mostly affects men between 15 and 34, Jon’s age. 

“Testicular cancer occurs when malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of one or both testicles,” Dr. Klink explains. “Fortunately, the disease is highly treatable. About 95 percent of men diagnosed with testicular cancer survive their disease.”

Dr. Klink and his surgical cancer team rushed into action to treat Jon’s cancer. Within a week, he underwent surgery, during which Dr. Klink removed the cancerous left testicle and replaced it with a prosthetic.

Because the cancer had spread to his stomach and lungs, Jon would need to undergo chemotherapy. A few days after his recovery from surgery, he had a port placed for the grueling chemotherapy regimen that lay ahead. 

He went through four rounds of chemotherapy at the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic at the Bonita Health Center. The first week was especially exhausting, involving five consecutive days of infusions lasting six to nine hours each day. 

The following weeks involved shorter treatments, allowing for much-needed rest periods in between. 

Jon found support in the exceptional care he received from the compassionate staff at the Bonita Community Health Center, who ensured he felt comfortable, informed, and empowered every step of the way.

"Absolutely awesome care,” Jon says. “I mean, never once did I feel uncomfortable. Never once did I feel like I couldn't talk to somebody about what was going on or how I was feeling from the different side effects of the treatment. Everyone there, the nurses and staff, even the people from the labs, made it a point to give me anything I need to make me feel comfortable.”

Throughout Jon's treatment, tumor markers – substances that provide valuable information about specific cancers – played a pivotal role in guiding his treatment, Dr. Klink says. 

“Tumor markers are substances in your body that provide information about certain types of cancer,” Dr. Klink explains. “They can refer to proteins produced by cancer cells or patterns/changes in your DNA. Markers help with diagnosis, treatment planning, prognosis, monitoring, and detecting potential recurrences,” Dr. Klink says. 

After he began chemotherapy, Jon’s initially elevated tumor marker levels dropped dramatically, from the high thousands to almost less than five within a week – a promising sign that his body was responding positively to the intensive treatment.

Ringing in the new year

After three long months, Jon finished his treatment in January. Appropriately enough, he not only rang in the new year but also one of his donated bells to celebrate his special moment and honor his wife, Mika, family members, friends, and members of his cancer care teams.

“That was a little surreal,” Jon recalls. “I didn't think I'd ever be the one ringing that bell. I got it for other people to enjoy, and it turned out something that I got to enjoy.” 

Jon remains cancer-free and continues to receive follow-up monitoring with Dr. Klink and Dr. Venkata Parsa, a board-certified hematologist-oncologist with Jon's medical team.

He’s back on the job, climbing ladders and wearing a heavy toolbelt without discomfort. As for playing hockey, he plans on picking it up next year. Meanwhile, he continues to regain his strength and enjoys feeling pain-free.

“It could have been a lot worse than it was. I'm glad it was caught so quickly,” he says. “Nobody wants to hear that they have cancer, but when you catch it and find out early enough, you give yourself a much better chance of overcoming your disease.” 

Dr. Klink stresses the importance of testicular self-exams, which he calls an “easy practice” that can literally save your life in men diagnosed with testicular cancer. 

“If you aren’t regularly checking yourself, symptoms like a lump or swelling in the testes are easy to miss,” Dr. Klink says. “Performing regular self-exams and getting medical attention for any testicular abnormalities is crucial for achieving the best possible outcomes.” 

Here’s how to do a testicular exam.

WATCH HEALTH MATTERS: Jon, in his own words