TOMAHAWK AND MARSHFIELD - A young Tomahawk boy was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Since then, he's undergone surgery and numerous medical treatments.

4-year-old Drew Myers loves playing with his twin sister Faith. But this August, Drew started to get lingering headaches, and was forced to cut playtime short. Countless doctors visits later, Drew's parents found out why. Mitch Myers, Drew's Dad, says, "It was very hard to see him walk in the room and have that expression on his face and he didn't know how to tell me."

Doctors diagnosed Drew witha brain tumor called Medullablastoma.

Mitch says, "I think we just kind of kicked into survival mode at that point, I mean the emotions-there wasn't much emotion. We didn't know know what to do. We didn't know what to think. We just kinda let the doctors take over."

Drew was rushed into surgery to remove the tumor. Surgeons extracted it all, but Drew's medical battle was just beginning. He now spends five out of seven mornings at the Marsfield Clinic for radiation treatments to his brain and spinal fluid.

Warren Olds, MD-Radiation Oncologist at Marshfield clinic, says, "The tumor he's being treated for which came out surgically has a very high tendency to shed malignant cells into that fluid I talked about and since you can't tell where they are, because they're microscopic, you have to treat the whole fluid volume."

The treatment time is 20 minutes with the actual treatment time being 6 to 8 minutes. During that time, millions of high frequency radiation beam are sent into his body.

Dr. Olds says, "He doesn't feel it. If he was a little bit older we could talk him through it. He wouldn't need the sedation after all. The actual physical treatment is actually undetected by the body."

Normally after Drew wakes up from his sedation, he's off to his chemotherapy treatments. But not today. Today the staff decided to throw a birthday party for Drew and Faith.

After the party, Drew's off to another Doctor appointment and chemotherapy. He's got an internal port that helps regulate his medication. Doctors say being truthful with kids about their condition and treatment helps make a scary time a little easier.

Michael McManus, MD-Pediatric Oncologist, says,
"Between the parent and all the staff here and the doctors to be very truthful, up front and tell them what's gonna happen and explain it. Tell them some things are gonna hurt for a little bit and children will get through it usually just fine."

Drew's parents and his team of doctors say they're hopeful Drew will recover and be back to his fun-loving,playful self.

Jolene Myers, Drew's Mom, says "I do have hope because I can't even imagine my life without him nor do I want to."

Michael Mc Manus, MD, says "You can't look into the future, but there's certainly a very high percentage cure rate for this particular kind of cancer."

A high percentage rate Drew's family is counting on. They say their faith and the Northwoods community is helping Drew make it through.

There is a fund set-up to help the Myers family pay for Drew's medical expenses. You can send donations to:
Tomahawk Community Bank
c/o Fund for Drew
P.O. Box 159
Tomahawk, WI 54487