Beloved Staff Member Battles On

Johnson celebrates last round of chemotherapy

Masden Embry, Copy Editor, Editor in Chief|October 28, 2022

Bill Johnson poses with the doctors and nurses who threw him a celebration after helping him during his time at IU Health Oncology Bedford.

Bill Johnson rings the bell at IU Health Bedford hospital after his final round of chemotherapy treatments.

On Friday, October 21, Resource Aide Bill Johnson rang in a new stage of his life while putting another one to bed. With the ringing of the hospital bell, Johnson celebrated his last round of six chemotherapy treatments. The following Monday, October 24, Johnson completed his 34th and final radiation treatment.

These treatment plans were designed by the medical staff at IU Health Oncology Bedford and were dedicated to defeating Johnson’s bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma, also known as adenocarcinoma, which is a type of lung cancer.

This is not the only type of cancer Johnson has had to fight. In 2017, after a severe and unrelenting cough, a doctor’s visit led to Johnson’s diagnosis of a kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma, which prompted the removal of his right kidney in the following year.

This procedure required Johnson to have routine CT scans of his chest and abdomen, the former of which discovered a growing shadow in his lung. This past June, the shadow had both solidified and increased in size. This led to his new lung cancer diagnosis.

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I have a tremendous support team. I really need to give [my wife] Brenda more credit for her support throughout this and my kidney ordeal. Without her support, I have no idea where I would be right now. I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

— Bill Johnson

Johnson credits his strength and wants to give thanks to the many people that have held him up throughout his battle.

“I have a tremendous support team. I really need to give [my wife] Brenda more credit for her support throughout this and my kidney ordeal. Without her support, I have no idea where I would be right now. I am truly blessed to have her in my life. My wife, my brothers and sister, my wife’s family, my tremendous team of doctors and their staff and especially all of the staff here at school. Everyone has been great in showing their support for me,” said Johnson.

What is next for Johnson is a CT scan on November 8, followed by a waiting period. Due to the strength of the treatments he underwent, Johnson has a lot of inflammation that he has to wait 6-8 weeks to fade away before getting a follow-up PET Scan.