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Survivor's book offers advice for teenage cancer patients
By Theresa Freeman / Daily News Staff Thursday, September 8, 2005

At 17, John Link was more worried about going to the prom than about beating cancer. Now 25, Link has written a book to try to give some advice to teens and young adults who might be grappling with the disease. A Northborough native who recently moved back to town after living in Ashland for a year, Link this month will publish "The Link To Beating Cancer: A real life story of a teenage cancer survivor." "I just started writing, almost as something therapeutic," said Link, who has been in remission for seven years. "I was shocked at the information in my head." Going through cancer treatments during his junior year at Algonquin Regional High School, Link said there were not many books or resources for someone his age. He has written his book with tips for keeping your energy and spirits up in a tone that is not too technical, but informative, he said. "Cancer can be part of your life, but it shouldn't be your life. There is a big difference, and a difference that truly shows when you are proactive in fighting cancer," said the first-time author. Link, who wears a blue plastic bracelet that reads, "Live well," plans to give a portion of the proceeds from the sale of his book to the AFL-CIO Walk to Cure Cancer. He has joined the walk for years, he said. The walk, which starts and ends at UMass Medical School in Worcester, raises about $800,000 annually for cancer research. Event Manager Tamara Cullen said UMass helped Link pay for the book's printing and worked with publisher Mass Envelope Plus owner Steve Grossman on a discounted rate. "It's a very generous offer. (John) wanted to really make a difference," said Cullen. "He's a very humble and kind young man, and he wants to give back to a place that supported him through a very difficult part of his life." While undergoing treatments, Link said, he learned keeping a positive mindset and leaning on a support chain of family and friends helped him tremendously.

"I fought as hard as I could to be a normal teenager and live a normal life, even though I was going through such a draining treatment," said Link. Also, any kind of distraction -- movies, video games, novels, magazines, puzzles, music, crosswords -- helped the time go by during treatments, he said. "I always like to be active and moving around," Link said with a wry smile. It was a rough road, he said. "During the Spring of 1997, I was in the midst of trying out for the varsity baseball team when soreness in my left leg hampered my ability to play in the games and compete in practices," Link wrote. "What they (doctors) believed to be a simple stress fracture was indeed a very aggressive bone cancer, Osteosarcoma, located by my knee on my left femur." Shock, confusion and fear hit Link. He was rushed into chemotherapy as quickly as possible. Three months of chemotherapy, with three highly powerful agents, were followed by a limb salvage surgery. Doctors implanted a titanium prosthesis into Link's leg and removed a piece of the cancerous bone. This was followed by a final six months of post-surgery chemotherapy. Link spent more time at UMass Medical Center in Worcester than at home with father and mother Fred and Patricia Link. "The hospital became my home, and my parents' house was my second home," said Link. Chemotherapy overpowered him, leaving Link either asleep or nauseated. He lost nearly 50 pounds. After his surgery, a nutritionist helped him put back on most of the weight he lost. "The book is not all sugar-coated. It's like, 'You're going to get sick. You're going to lose your hair,'" said Link. "I didn't even have the energy to play cards." In his book, Link advises teens to be active in their treatment, to ask doctors questions and to write information down. "No question is stupid, like the teachers say," said Link. "Don't let them run your treatment."

Now a financial analyst, who works as a contractor, Link only has yearly check-ups. He said he hopes his book was written with a teen's voice. "Sometimes teenagers would rather hear from someone their own age," said Link. His 150-page book will be available at his Web site www.linktobeat.com and under the survivor tent at the Walk to Cure Cancer. The Seventh Annual Walk To Cure Cancer is Sept. 25. Registration is at noon, and the walk begins at 2 p.m. For more information, call 508-856-5520 or visit www.walktocureccancer.com.