After receiving a terminal illness diagnosis of Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Fr. Philip Johnson became a man with an incredible story.
Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Anaplastic Astrocytoma is a rare, malignant type of brain tumor that originates from astrocytes, which support nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor, but include:
- Neurological deficits, such as headaches, seizures, memory problems, personality changes, or difficulties with motor skills
- Increased pressure in the skull that causes nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision
Anaplastic Astrocytoma is classified as a grade 3 tumor on the World Health Organization (WHO) scale. It is considered malignant, meaning it can grow rapidly and spread to surrounding brain tissue. According to the Brain Tumor Charity, the average survival rate for grade 4 Astrocytoma is 12-18 months, with only 25% of people surviving more than one year, and only 5% surviving more than five years.
Fr. Philip Johnson’s Anaplastic Astrocytoma diagnosis:
In 2008, at the young age of 24, Fr. Philip Johnson received crushing news. After years of misdiagnosis, doctors told him he had Anaplastic Astrocytoma and only about a year to live. At the time, he was on his second Navy deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf. After many seizures, doctors discovered his brain tumor at the naval hospital in Bahrain.
He immediately flew home to begin his radiation and chemotherapy treatment, and was discharged from the Navy a few months later. Doctors told Johnson that he will eventually lose control of his bodily functions and his mental faculties will gradually disappear. Still, 16 years later, Fr. Philip Johnson has exceeded all expectations, far outliving his initial prognosis.
With this experience, he has gained an acute awareness as to how a terminal illness diagnosis impacts an individual’s mental health. Despite his struggles, he is strongly against the concept of physician-assisted suicide. He believes strongly that suicide is never the answer and help is always available to those who need it.
