The couple spent hours on the road – traveling from their home in Virginia to IU Health Simon Cancer Center. They recently embarked on another road trip – taking them 8,515 miles in 34 days.
By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org
There are pictures of them jumping into the air in front of the majestic red rocks of the west, kissing atop snow-capped peaks, and making jokes for the camera over the Las Vegas strip. Mostly, there are smiles – lots of smiles.
Recently, Chas and Lexi Goodson loaded up their Toyota Tacoma, named “Freeda,” and their loyal four-legged companion, “Roscoe,” and set off on the trip of a lifetime. The journey took them through more than 20 states – traversing the American southwest to explore New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
For the most part, the trip was a negative shake of the head at the diagnosis that has guided their journey for the past five years. Chas was diagnosed with testicular cancer on the 21stst birthday on October 28, 2018, two years before they got married. They became a couple at the age of 16 when they met at a horse show in 2014. They married in an outdoor ceremony in the pouring rain along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke, Va. Those closest to them all know that this is a couple. love story from scratch. They also know it’s no surprise that the couple embarks on a cross-country trip on a “to-do list” – hitting the road and sleeping in a tent on top of a truck – even when the temperature drops to single digits. .
Chas’ diagnosis of testicular cancer affects one in 250 men, usually young to middle-aged men. At first he thought he had a hernia – the cancer had spread through his lymph nodes and caused a mass the size of a soda can on his lung. Following his initial diagnosis, he underwent a proctectomy and a lobectomy at a hospital near his home. When the cancer recurred, he went to IU Health Simon Cancer Center for additional chemotherapy. Through subsequent follow-up visits, he was cared for by Dr. Lawrence Einhorn, who is known worldwide for his successful treatment of testicular cancer – germ cell tumor – using combination of high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral stem cell transplantation.
During one hospital stay, Chas connected with other testicular cancer patients and became known as a “motivator” who coached them during their treatment. He and Lexi quickly became friends with Isaac and Katie McCurdy, who came to IU Health from Stony Point, NC. In addition to chemotherapy, McCurdy underwent retroperitoneal lymph node surgery, under the care of Dr. Timothy Masterson of IU Health.
There are days when a group of young adults – all with the same diagnosis – will spend time with their wives, hanging out in the family living room at the Simon Cancer Center. At the time, Chas said: “I will do whatever I can to help them cope. I have never let this put me down. I was so grateful in my life at such a young age. I cannot complain.” Their lengthy conversation extended beyond a routine diagnosis.
They talk about their distant family, their pets, their common interests, and their careers. McCurdy is a firefighter; Chas worked as a plumber. Road trips are nothing out of the ordinary for him. He, Lexi, and Roscoe traveled the country from job to job, camping in a 40-foot fifth wheeler. Lexi is Inner Compass Travel’s travel coordinator and planned their recent trip between Chas treatments. Their journey included North Carolina to Florida, through the southern United States through Mississippi, Louisiana, to Texas, then New Mexico and Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada.
They’ve endured hikes that took them to ancient cliff dwellings, challenging drives through Coconino National Forest and blizzard-like conditions, and camped in rural canyons. Palo Duro Canyon in Texas.
Before heading home, they stopped in Indianapolis for an appointment with Chas at IU Health. They now live in South Indiana, where Chas has resumed treatment.
At the end of March, Lexi shared an update – the photos show the growing cancerous lesions on Chas’ liver. He’s in clinical trials but has now returned to chemotherapy once a month.
As they shared photos of the adventure of a lifetime, Lexi wrote: “Sometimes I wonder why we can never break this never-ending cycle of illness, however, we know very well. Thank you that every day we have the opportunity to continue living life without limits.
