One of Jerome Axton’s former basketball coaches talks about his work ethic in glowing terms. He described him as “hard working” and someone “who wasn’t afraid of anything.” For those that remember Axton’s days competing for Bridgeport High School, they know the descriptions are good ones.

 

Right now, they’re also ones he’ll need more than ever before. Axton, just 22 years of age, is ready for the battle of his life. In fact, it’s a battle that’s already started.

 

Earlier this month, Jerome Axton was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. In layman’s terms, it is cancer. And in this case, it’s a bone cancer more commonly associated with teenagers and rapid growth.

 

In less than three weeks, Axton’s life has went from one of working out, playing basketball and working at Mia Margherita’s in Bridgeport to one where he was tested, diagnosed and this past week had his first chemotherapy. It was, as he said on social media, time to “let the fight begin.”

 

Prior to the challenge in front of him and before his diagnosis, Axton’s familiarity with his own body as an athlete led him to know something wasn’t quite right. The 2010 Bridgeport High School graduate began having aches and pains in his knee a few months ago and that pain progressed.

 

“They were little pains at first and they just got more frequent and more intense,” said Axton. “I just thought it was overuse from working out. It got to the point where I couldn’t work and I made an appointment to see a specialist about my knee.”

 

As it turned out, Axton turned up early for his appointment; a month early – and it may have been the best thing that could have happened.

 

“When I went on April 1, they told me the appointment was on May 1. I was in so much pain I knew I couldn’t make it that long so we went to the emergency room,” said Axton. “They did all these tests and we were there for eight hours so I knew something was wrong.”

 

Initially, he thought he had a torn ACL, MCL or meniscus. By the time the day at the emergency room was over, he was beginning to sense it was much worse.

 

“I got an appointment at Ruby (Memorial in Morgantown) the next day at 10 a.m. They don’t get you in that quick unless something is wrong,” said Axton. “Before I went to the ER, I was still thinking it was the ACL type of thing. Who thinks it is going to be cancer? Not a lot of people my age think that’s what it could be, but before that day was over it was there in my head.”

 

The next day, Axton was in Morgantown meeting with Dr. Brock Lindsey. Not long after that, Lindsey confirmed Axton’s worst fear that he had cancer.

 

“How do you take news like that? You just go numb. I know I started crying and Dr. Lindsey came over and put his hand on my back and told me ‘we’re going to get through this.’ Ever since then, it’s just been crazy,” said Axton.

 

Crazy in a good sense and also crazy in a bad sense – and the first thing was actually a good thing. The type of cancer Axton had didn’t do what it’s known to do. The tumor, which Axton said is growing off his bone and pushing off the muscle in his tibia, had not burst.

 

“Going a month early was a blessing. I don’t know if (the tumor) would have still been together if I had to wait until May.  (Dr. Lindsey) said that it being together was a good thing,” said Axton.

 

There was also more good news. A bone scan showed that it had not spread into the bones. The cancer, which is also notorious for spreading to the lungs, required a chest examination. Axton said a CT Scan showed negative results, which was more good news.

As the testing was taking place and the diagnosis was still fresh, word began to spread that the popular Axton was now staring down cancer. Almost instantly, the battle Jerome and his family were facing was joined by his friends, the Bridgeport community and beyond.

 

“I can’t describe in words what it means to me to see the messages people have sent me and to see things written to me and the phone calls. There have been times I’ve just sat down and cried and what people have said and I want them to know that it means the world to me,” said Axton.

 

Of course, Axton does have a tag team partner in this. And it’s one he’s gone to battle with before. His name is Antony Alonzo Axton; most of you know him as Jerome’s little brother Zo.

 

“He’s my number one and has been there every step of the way through a lot of stuff. I just want him to know he’s a big part of this,” said Jerome of his younger brother.

 

Jerome and Zo were there together this week for Jerome’s first week of chemotherapy, which included his initial treatment that followed with what he described as “the worst day of my life.” By Friday, Good Friday, things were better and he’s confident that his doctors – Dr Steven Paul and Dr. Ofelia Crombet – will make the adjustments that will help assure the next round of chemotherapy isn’t nearly as troubling.

 

“I’m off of chemotherapy for two more weeks then back on chemotherapy for two weeks. I have to go through this for a while,” said Axton.

 

Eventually, they’ll do more scans of his cancerous area. The goal is to get the tumor to shrink and have it surgically removed.

 

“I’m looking at probably another four months of chemo. When you look at everything from chemo, to surgery and rehab, the doctors have told me that it could be a year to a year and a half of your life,” said Axton. “I’ve accepted this and I know that everything happens for a reason, even if you don’t know why. This is the biggest battle of my life, and I’m ready to win it.”

 

Something tells me he will. After all, he’s always faced down his opponents and has won – cancer won’t be the exception.

 

Click HERE for last week's blog.

 

Editor’s Note I:Individuals that would like to purchase a “Let the Battle Begin” window decal, pictured in the middle, to help with expenses, click HERE.  

 

Editor’s Note II:Top photo is of Jerome Axton with his brother Zo and Zo’s girlfriend Jessica Smith in the background. Bottom photo is of Axton and one of his best friends, Zack Veltri.