Cancer diagnosis propels man, 26, toward social work

A Greenfield High School graduate has found purpose through his diagnosis.

By TJ Banes, IU Health, senior journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

He was just out of high school when Andrew McDonald received a cancer diagnosis. In the years that followed he’s learned a lot about life that many people twice his age would not understand.

“I have a unique skillset and I’m thinking I would be a good child advocate, a therapist. I look at it as a way of giving back. You can talk about how a cancer makes you feel – the sickness, the burden you may feel on your family, not being a crew member at work, changes in friendships – but cancer is one of the better things that has happened to me. Almost immediately you realize things aren’t that serious and we plague ourselves with things that don’t really matter. The relationship you have with family and friends are way more important than work,” said McDonald, a 2018 graduate of Greenfield Central High School.

He was just starting high school when McDonald began feeling pain in his right tibia. He chalked it up to a growing pain or pulled muscle. Over time, the pain turned to a constant “stabbing” sensation. He took over-the-counter pain meds and lived with it. Then in 2021, when he collapsed, he made a trip to immediate care. An x-ray followed and before he was out the door, the doctor told him he saw “something suspicious” on the scan.

“We thought it was a bone spur or hairline fracture, but the next thing I knew I was referred to IU Health Simon Cancer Center,” said McDonald, the son of Jason McDonald and Kelly Osborn. His father accompanied him as he received infusion treatments.

McDonald has osteosarcoma, a rare, but aggressive form of bone cancer that originates in the cells responsible for forming the bone tissue. At IU Health, he is in the care of Dr. Samantha Armstrong.

“My cancer is very rare and from the slides and imaging my care team saw in 2021, they said they had never seen a DNA structure like this. Globally there are less than 200 documented cases,” said McDonald. In October 2021, he had his first surgery to remove the compromised bone. A year later, he had a second surgery to remove the spread to his kneecap. He was in the surgical care of Drs. L. Daniel Wurtz and Rachel Danforth.

After surgery, McDonald said he had to relearn to walk and eventually got into the best physical shape of his life. He became passionate about taking long walks at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park and strolls around the school track.

In the summer of 2023, McDonald learned the cancer had spread to his shoulder. He had a third surgery followed by chemotherapy.

He said the cancer didn’t respond to the chemotherapy. He is now taking immunotherapy to slow the growth.

“After my surgery, I found a new appreciation, but I also had survivor’s guilt. So many people with this diagnosis don’t make it,” said McDonald. He began journaling and working to improve his overall health. In focusing on his strengths, he decided to enroll in school with a focus on a career in counseling.

He’s also found another interest – cooking. “I love pastas, soups, casseroles, a lot of the comfort foods I grew up with,” said McDonald. “I’ve been cooking since I was 10 and this gives me a sense of accomplishment.”