Police officer fighting Stage IV cancer

San Benito Police Officer Guadalupe Ayala is shown with his family in this 2009 photo. (Courtesy photo)

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

In 2008, San Benito Police Officer Guadalupe Ayala was diagnosed with colon cancer. Ever resilient, he was able to overcome surgery, one which would require the removal of part of his large intestine, and was declared cancer-free.

But 2011 hasn’t been as kind to him.

After a recent check up, Ayala received news that most people fear. His cancer had returned, and it’s been diagnosed at Stage IV.

“I had just went in for a regular checkup at San Benito Medical Associates. The doctor did the whole blood work,” said Ayala. “He said I was anemic, I was showing red blood cells. Well, he sent me to a specialist, and sure enough, I had colon cancer.”

According to Ayala, he had a surgery in which doctors cut 14 inches from his large intestine in 2008. He thought that was the end of it.

“They put me all back together, and six months after my surgery I went in for a cat scan and they couldn’t find any cancer,” Ayala said. “At that time, the doctor advised me that I didn’t need any chemo because I was cancer-free.”

On the follow-up two years later, Ayala said, “They found some cancer outside my stomach and on my liver. I asked the doctor what happened, why did I have cancer? He said that maybe when I had surgery some cancer cells went into my bloodstream and spread out.”

Specifically, Ayala has been diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic colon cancer, news which no symptoms warned him

“I went to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for a second opinion,” Ayala said. “They did another scan and they showed me where the cancer was. They told me that they would come up with a plan of attack to help me. They are going to give me chemotherapy for eight weeks, and after the chemo they’re going to give me another scan to see how it’s doing and to see if I can have surgery. Otherwise I’m going to have to stay on chemo until I can have the surgery.”

Ayala will begin eight weeks of chemotherapy on Monday, June 20. While he is preparing for what is sure to be an intense experience, there was no way to prepare for the initial revelation that his cancer had returned.

“I couldn’t believe it. Who made a mistake? Somebody made a mistake down the road. I was told that I was cancer-free, it wasn’t supposed to happen anymore,” said an emotional Ayala. “My family was kind of upset at the beginning, and they’re still kind of upset. I don’t want to say that they feel sorry for me, but they are supporting me 100 percent. They’re with me all the time.”

Not only is his immediate family supporting him throughout his ordeal, but his fellow police officers are doing their part to help out their comrade, who’s incurring significant medical expenses.

“They’re going to have a barbeque of chicken quarter legs, sausage, rice and beans, bread and drinks. It’s going to be at Kennedy Park by the Heavin Resaca Trail,” Ayala said.

The chicken plate benefit will be held Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plates are going to be $6,” Ayala said. “I’ve met a lot of people on the streets who tell me that I’ll be in their prayers. I appreciate everything that they’re doing, especially the officers.”

Ayala, who will have served with the San Benito Police Department (SBPD) for 22 years on June 27, shows an unbelievable amount of composure as he explains his initial reaction to finding out the unfortunate news.

“I feel kind of sad, but the whole thing is just another bump in the road,” Ayala said. “Hopefully I come out of this so that I can tell my story to other people who have cancer, kind of as encouragement to help their faith. I just want to get it over with to get back to my normal life.”

To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the June 19 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.