After an ordinary dinner with his family and wife, Stacey, in January 2023, Bryan Huston knew something wasn’t right. Experiencing numbness and disorientation, Bryan went to a Stoughton hospital and was quickly airlifted to UW Health for symptoms of a stroke.
The next day, Bryan underwent a craniotomy to remove a brain tumor causing the stroke. That tumor was found to be metastatic melanoma. Despite the terrifying diagnosis, Bryan was determined to fight.
“I don’t let anything beat me,” said Bryan.
After the stroke, Bryan was left completely paralyzed on his right side. Additionally, several tumors remained after his initial surgery. UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center swiftly put together a treatment team consisting of physical and occupational therapists, neurosurgeons, and oncologists.
Bryan remained in the hospital for weeks following his surgery and started physical therapy to regain movement in the right side of his body. With guidance from radiation oncologist Dr. Adam Burr, Bryan and Stacey opted for an aggressive treatment plan. In February 2023, Bryan underwent ten rounds of full brain radiation.
Medical oncologist Dr. Vincent Ma helped guide Bryan through immunotherapy, a therapy designed to help strengthen his immune system to fight the cancer cells in his body and brain. Bryan had to end that treatment after a few months due to complications, but the effects continued to help prevent the cancer from growing back and spreading.
“The amazing thing about immunotherapy is that it can have durable benefits, meaning it can last in the patient's body for a long time,” according to Ma. “Bryan’s treatment with immunotherapy has successfully maintained good activity against his melanoma.”
Following the radiation and immunotherapy, Bryan’s latest tests show no signs of active cancer and remains in remission! Additionally, thanks to his perseverance in physical therapy, Bryan is out of a wheelchair and walking with a cane.
Stacey is thankful for the consistently supportive care at Carbone Cancer Center and appreciates the way that Bryan’s oncology team guided them through complicated treatment plans.
“I have nothing but great things to say about the whole UW system,” Stacey said. “The nurses are amazing. I was there every day, but I knew that I could leave him at night and still feel like he was going to be okay.”
Bryan and Stacey relied on support from their community during Bryan’s treatment. Family and friends came together to throw Bryan a benefit, and community members completely filled the venue. Bryan also attributes his recovery to the help of his parents and kids, who handled transportation for important treatments while helping keep the household afloat.
Before his diagnosis, Bryan worked in paintless dent repair for more than 25 years. Now that he’s made huge strides in gaining back mobility, Bryan has been able to work on passing down the family business by training his son.
While recurrence is always possible, Bryan and Stacey are enjoying being able to ease back into work, travel, and a new normal.
“I think attitude has a lot to do with it,” Stacey said. “We’ve had our sad days, but I always tell Bryan that these places are OK to visit, we just don’t stay here.”
For patients like Bryan, Ma notes that immunotherapy has been a game-changing treatment to give melanoma patients better quality of life.
“Bryan is walking proof of somebody who can beat and be in remission for stage 4 melanoma,” said Ma. “Since 2011, immunotherapy has become one of the most important breakthroughs in cancer care, helping many patients, even those with cancer spread to the brain, live longer than ever before.”