Brad’s Story

Site created on August 25, 2020

Thank you for visiting Brad's Caring Bridge page, where we’ll keep you all informed on what is happening with Brad's treatment and recovery from squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx (throat cancer), which was diagnosed in early August 2020. Brad has an outstanding medical team in place, and though treatment will be very challenging, the curability of this type of cancer is high. 

We are deeply grateful for all of the individual messages of support and concern we have received thus far, and we're definitely going to need your continued encouragement, prayers, and positivity as we go forward.  Because Brad and Rachel are laser-focused on his treatment and recovery, it's become difficult to respond individually to each message as it comes in, so we’ll use this site to consolidate all communication in one place. Please know that all of your messages are welcome and appreciated!


WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

Many of you have asked how you can help. As we head into the radiation and chemo treatment phase starting September 21 through November 6, we'll use the "PLANNER" tab of the website for practical help (i.e., scheduling rides to and from appointments, etc.) that will be needed locally in Santa Fe. 


Brad has been advised by his medical team—and a survivor who has undergone this particular treatment—that he will likely be unable to work again until at least February 2021. That is a 6 month loss of income. This, coupled with Brad’s inability to work in the film industry since March 2020 due to Covid-19 production delays, has put him on precarious economic footing, at a time when he needs the strongest foundation.

Fortunately, Brad has health insurance through the motion picture industry through May 2021 which will cover the staggering costs of his core care. However, there are many aspects of his treatment that will not be covered, including:

— Medications to combat nausea and neuropathy from chemo and control the throat pain from radiation

— Top-quality organic groceries (beyond what Brad & Rachel normally buy) for soups and purées that he will be able to swallow

— Weight gain powders and dietary supplements for high calorie shakes to prevent extreme weight loss and avoid the need for a gastric feeding tube.

— Acupuncture treatments to alleviate radiation-induced throat pain

— Massage therapy to treat radiation fibrosis (scarring of neck & jaw muscles) and lymphedema

— Special rinses to minimize damage to his teeth from mineral loss caused by radiation

—Psychological counseling for both Brad and Rachel. She is Brad’s primary caregiver during this time and needs all the support she can get to face this challenge.

As Brad and Rachel’s precious “Village” we can all contribute to his recovery by minimizing as much of the financial strain as possible. None of us can change this diagnosis. None of us can go through this difficult treatment for Brad, or make it go any faster. Because of Covid-19, even close family members cannot be present to provide hands-on help. But we can help—PROFOUNDLY—by taking some of these economic concerns off their plate. We have created a GoFundMe campaign called "Brad's Cancer Recovery Fund" and it can be found in the "WAYS TO HELP" tab in the menu bar.

Our family is deeply grateful for your prayers, love, and contributions, of any size. Together, we can help Brad and Rachel through this extraordinary challenge, in this extraordinary time.

Thank you.

Newest Update

Another Year Already?!?

Journal entry by Brad Reyes —

Hi All,

I hope everything is well with you, your families, friends, pets, and communities. Can you believe it’s been 365 days since I last wrote you? No news is truly good news compared to the frequent updates happening at the end of 2020. Today is the 3 year anniversary of the start of my radiation and chemo treatments. I am honoring the start of that period of my life, and happy to report that on the cancer front today, I still show no evidence of disease based on checkups/scopes with my ENT and absence of any physical symptoms (sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, etc.). My new oncologist at the UNM Cancer Center is great, and wants to expose me to less radiation via scans so we’re just in a surveillance mode of physical symptoms. After this Fall, I’ll probably only need to see my docs once a year for followups. All positive, and light years from where I was 3 years ago!

Since my last update, lots has happened for Rachel and me. We adopted a new dog in February…about a year old at the time. We named him Archie and he’s a love, though mischievous like all puppies! He’s integrating well with our original troupe, though Buddy (our almost 11 year old beagle) is not so sure at times. We bought a cute house in Northeast Albuquerque and enjoying settling in and making it ours. We have the best neighbors and feel very blessed to be homeowners again. And I’ve been riding…a lot. The strike in Hollywood has meant no movie work for me this year so I’ve had time to step up my cycling game and completed a challenging 100 mile course climbing over 5000ft in the “Santa Fe Century”, and tackled a ride from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and back covering 125 miles and almost 8000 ft of climbing (both personal firsts). I definitely caught the bug and love, love, love getting out on my bike.

In fact, this weekend I am doing the 50 mile “Lobo Cancer Challenge” race to support the UNM Cancer Center on Saturday, and hopping back on my bike Sunday for the 100 mile “Tour of the Rio Grande”! Kinda like my mini-Tour de France to see what back to back long rides feel like. I’m contemplating a trip with Rachel to Europe next year for an organized bike tour in either France or Spain, and possibly a Pacific Coast ride from the top of America to the bottom or even a transcontinental effort - though the latter are ways down the line.

I think I keep pushing myself on the bike to test the boundaries of what I can do. As exhausting (and painful) as it can be at times, I remember what I was going through 3 years ago between the surgeries, chemo, and radiation - and by comparison, whatever discomfort I’m feeling, it pales to where I was at rock bottom. That lived experience propels me forward, knowing I can do hard things. I am resilient enough to try anything.

Until next time, and with love and gratitude,
Brad

P.S. If you know someone who gets diagnosed with throat cancer and is about to embark on treatment or struggling in the midst of it or during recovery and needs support or has questions, please reach out to me and I can pass along my contact information to you to give to them. I am available to share my experience - things that worked, things that didn’t - and maybe be able to lessen for them what is by its very nature a heavy burden.
Read More of the journal titled "Another Year Already?!?"
  • With my training partner, Grant, before the 50 mile Tour de Acoma race.
    With my training partner, Grant, before the 50 mile Tour de ...
  • Our new rescue dog, Archie, who joined our family in February!
    Our new rescue dog, Archie, who joined our family in February!
  • Out on the course for the Santa Fe Century.
    Out on the course for the Santa Fe Century.
  • Still standin’ after 106 miles!
    Still standin’ after 106 miles!
  • Our new home in Albuquerque since 6/1/23!
    Our new home in Albuquerque since 6/1/23!
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