Father of four diagnosed with stage 4 cancer: A journey of hope, family, and resilience
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- When Christopher Arias started to feel back pain about two months ago he thought pain from a car crash that nearly took his life and his family two years ago had returned. The pain spread to his abdomen, and he noticed a sudden weight loss.
“My stomach started hurting. I started having bad pains, I was not able to sleep. And then I started getting very nauseous and not wanting to eat, no appetite, and I lost 25 pounds,” Arias said. “I wasn’t feeling myself and my energy was low. I had no will to do anything.”
A week later, after going through a CAT scan, the father of four knew something wasn’t right when he got a call from the doctor’s office asking him to come in that day.
Arias has two boys and two girls -- the oldest is 17 years old and his youngest is 6.
“When I got there,” Arias paused while fighting tears, “The doctor said, I'm sorry, I need you to come in. I don’t want to tell you over the phone.”
He went on to say that the scans showed obstruction in his stomach and colon, and it didn’t look good. His doctor asked for more tests including a colonoscopy and another scan, because she saw some spots in his chest.
“All I had to hear was that word cancer, and it just, I, it just broke me down,” he said while breaking down during a conversation with KXAN. “I just, I just couldn't stop crying. I couldn't leave the room. I didn't know what to do. I started thinking about my kids and my family, and I didn't know what to do.”
That was 12 days ago, and the results confirmed what he feared.
“It was stage four, and I lost it,” he said.
Arias said the last two weeks have been hard; his children are with him every day – never wanting to leave his side. The support from his family is helping Arias continue to fight.
“I'm very grateful again for everything they've done. It's just, it's been a journey, and I'm trying to to keep that energy, to keep going, fighting for my kids and my family. It’s hard,” Arias said. “Without my mom too, without her help, without my wife, I wouldn't be able to keep up with everything that they're throwing at me.”
His mother, Tammy Moyer, is helping with his appointments and insurance filings. The last 12 days have been hard.
“Mothers don't wear capes. They wear smiles and do what they can do for their children. And I have faith that my God, he can perform miracles,” Moyer said.
On Thursday, Chris will find out what type of treatment to expect. It all depends on what a recent round of tests show – whether the cancer is hereditary or if it developed on its own. Arias' doctor, Dr. Hareesha Vemuganti, hematologist and medical oncologist with Texas Oncology in Cedar Park and Leander, said cancer can affect people in two ways – it can be hereditary or lifestyle.
“Well, smoking is a risk factor, alcohol intake is a risk factor, eating processed foods is a risk factor -- and these are the main risk factors but there are others,” Vemuganti said.
Dr. Vemuganti said listening to your body is key.
“You need to listen to what your body is saying to you. If your body is saying that I have belly pain or I have chronic constipation, or I have blood in my stools, don't ignore no matter what your age is,” Vemuganti said.
When to get tested depends on your family history. Vemuganti said people who don’t have a family history of colon cancer can get tested at the age of 45.
“You just never know. So please take care of yourself and love every love, every moment with your family,” Arias said. “Life is short be happy.”
Arias’ work family set up a Gofundme account to help raise money for his medical costs.