Crystal Lake South's Ahsmann fighting return of cancer
Crystal Lake South football coach Chuck Ahsmann has lived with marginal zone lymphoma for 22 years, so when the 52-year-old felt fatigued in recent months he wasn't sure if the source was his ongoing cancer fight or the natural effects of aging.
However, a biopsy of bone marrow drawn from Ahsmann's hip during an annual checkup three weeks ago revealed a rising cancer rate of 20 percent. The slow-growing tumor was depleting the red blood cells that carry oxygen to his muscles, causing fatigue and other symptoms.
"The way it was described to me early on is your marrow is like a garden and the cancer is like a weed," Ahsmann said. "As the weed grows, the good stuff in the garden isn't there to help your body. So they treat it with chemotherapy and try to kill the weeds. The idea is to get rid of all the weeds, but in my case they can't so they try to kill as many as they can."
Thus, Ahsmann, 52, on Monday underwent the first of four planned chemotherapy treatments at the University of Wisconsin to combat the incurable disease. It's the same treatment program he underwent 15 years ago with great success. Patients diagnosed with his form of cancer have a life expectancy of 10 years. He has survived more than twice as long.
Ahsmann, whose teams have gone 34-16 in his five years as CL South's coach, said he will tackle this new round of chemotherapy with the same zeal and positive attitude with which he attacked treatment previously.
"Same way as I approached it the last time, it's just that I'm a little older so I have to pace myself a little better," said the father of three, including CL South senior defensive back, Joe. "But I'm all in. Give me whatever you've got to give me, as much as you can give me. I'll battle it the best I can.
"I'm very fortunate. I have a great support system at home. I've got a great support system at work. My assistant coaches are willing to take over any task. The school has been great, my principal, my department chair. Anything I need. I'm very fortunate I have the support I have."
A physics teacher, Ahsmann said he intends to continue coaching this season and beyond.