Ryan lives and breathes sports and his passion for baseball and hockey had him on the field and on the ice at age 4. He never missed a hockey game, until a year and a half ago. After a series of tests, the doctors diagnosed this now 17-year-old high school hockey player with rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare and dangerous form of cancer in the soft tissue. "He's a kid who is never sick and never complains about bumps and bruises," said his mother, Suzi.

On Sept. 1, 2004, the doctors found a softball-size tumor between his bladder/prostate, a tumor on his spine and several in his pelvic/hip bone and sternum region. Cancer had also spread into his lymph nodes. "It was shocking," Ryan said. "That's not something you expect at my age."

Ryan was treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The radiation was particularly complicated because the cancer had started in the prostate area, but then spread to involve lymph nodes and surrounding bones. The radiation needed to encompass the prostate and nodes, but avoid the bowel and bladder. This was accomplished with a new technology called TomoTherapy in which very precise beams are directed from 360 degrees around the patient. Just prior to activating the beams, a short CT scan is conducted with the patient on the treatment table to ensure the beams are aimed correctly. This new radiation therapy delivery method helped make Ryan's treatment possible and helped avoid side effects associated with the radiation.

Ryan's 42-week treatment routine consisted of a week at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview for chemotherapy every 21 days, followed by one week off for recovery, then one week of part-time school. In addition, Ryan underwent 28 rounds of radiation in the bladder/prostate region. As of March 2005, all of the tumors had disappeared and there are currently no signs of cancer in Ryan's body. Ryan's last scheduled round of chemotherapy and radition ended on July 15, 2005. On that day, his status changed from a cancer patient to a cancer survivor.

In January 2005, prior to Ryan beginning his radiation and at the suggestion of his family, he donated his own stem cells for harvesting in the event that he would need a transplant in the future. Ryan was able to donate enough stems cells for two transplants. At the time, little did the doctors or the Shumans know that Ryan would need to receive a transplant at the end of his treatments. As a result of his final 12 rounds of complete bone radiation, the doctors felt that it would be necessary for him to receive the stem cells back in order to help him recover.

The Shuman family believes there is a purpose as to why this has happened and continues to make the best of the situation. Suzi and her husband Rob also have two daughters: Alicia, 16, and Jessica, 9. Being a hockey family has created friendships across the state and beyond. "You don't wish for this to happen to anyone," said Suzi. "This is a horrible thing, but we've gained so many friendships with great people."

Ryan's story has touched lives around the world. A website, www.caringbridge.org/mn/ryanshuman, lets his parents easily update friends and family about his condition through journal entries, and an electronic guestbook overflows with wishes. Grammy Award-winning singer Alanis Morissette also visited Ryan when he was in the hospital, and when the rock band Five For Fighting posted an e-mail about Ryan on their website, Ryan received responses from Aruba, Australia, Austria, South Africa, Spain and Sweden. Friends, neighbors and fellow hockey families embrace the Shumans, and kids at Eden Prairie High School sport Lance Armstrong "Live Strong" bracelets in honor of Ryan.

"Ryan has always had a giving spirit. He spent most of his young life working on different service projects and giving to others," said Suzi. "I find it ironic that Ryan was forced to be on the receiving end of these selfless gestures and he realized how good it makes him feel." Ryan helps with many service projects for Children's Cancer Research Fund, including working the phone bank at the seventh annual KS95 for Kids' Radiothon in March 2005, serving as an ambassador for the third annual Time to Fly Run/Walk in June 2005, and he is also the honorary spokesman for the Relay For Life event in Eden Prairie.

In November 2005, Ryan was re-diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in his lower left femur and two small spots in his right femur as well. Ryan then underwent a biopsy surgery to confirm the cancer and within weeks of this finding, he began 15 rounds of radiation to both femurs and started taking a daily oral chemothearapy drug.

Currently, the last set of scans showed no real sign of cancer and the doctors couldn't be more pleased with the results. Ryan will continue to take the oral chemothearapy drug as a precaution measure for some time in the near future.

Ryan is optimistic and yet realistic about his condition. Despite his off-the-ice battle, his dreams remain rich and alive. After high school, Ryan hopes to play in the USHL and then become a college hockey player. The ring he wears is a testament to his future: EPHS Class of 2007.

Twenty percent of cancer patients, like Ryan, need new and innovative treatments outside of the traditional therapies of radiation and chemotherapy to battle cancer. Children's Cancer Research Fund is helping find those treatments by providing critical funding to the University of Minnesota's High Risk Malignancy Program. This initiative tests new therapeutic combinations as well as new agents to help kids like Ryan survive.


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