ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 10, 1997 TAG: 9703100005
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FREDERICKSBURG
SOURCE: KEITH EPPS THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Talsey Cunningham is not giving up, even though the rare form of cancer he has is inoperable.
Talsey Cunningham's dream is to become a police officer. If the 16-year-old Stafford County resident is to realize that dream, he'll first have to overcome the nightmare that confronted him this winter.
Talsey was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, nasopharyngeal. A Georgetown University Medical Center spokeswoman said the inoperable cancer Talsey has is especially rare in young people. She said his case is the seventh involving a minor in Georgetown's history.
So instead of continuing his activities in the Stafford County Sheriff's Office cadet program or getting ready for another season as an umpire with the Stafford Baseball League, the Brooke Point High School student is fighting for his life.
``This has just devastated us,'' said Rhonda Mastin, a secretary with the Sheriff's Office. ``We're just getting to the point where we can talk about it without bursting into tears. He has been everybody's child here.''
Linda Cunningham, Talsey's mother and a part-time receptionist with the Sheriff's Office, said her son has refused to surrender to the fact that the cancer is inoperable.
``He's convinced he's going to get well,'' she said. ``He told me, `I'm not sick. They have medicine for this, and they're going to make me well.'''
Talsey, who has three younger sisters, lived a healthy, active life until recently, family members and friends said.
During a recent telephone interview, he seemed in good spirits and said he was feeling well.
Linda Cunningham said she took him to a doctor in October because of an ear problem, but there was no indication then that anything was seriously wrong. One morning in February, Talsey woke up with a swollen neck and said his wisdom teeth were bothering him.
Cunningham said they went to the doctor and Talsey's teeth were impacted. But the dentist told them that had nothing to do with the swelling in his neck, and he sent the teen-ager to another doctor.
Within a day, Talsey was at the Georgetown University Medical Center for tests. The results were swift and shocking - he had cancer. The large mass went from behind Talsey's nose into his lymph nodes.
Doctors determined that it is inoperable.
``It was stunning,'' Cunningham said. ``It's amazing how much you lean on your faith in something like this. I can't remember now what it was I was consumed with before.''
Talsey left the hospital in late February after seven days of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He is expected to return for more treatments.
Talsey has lost his hair and plenty of weight. But he has not lost the support of his friends.
Stafford deputies Robin Perkins Butler and Jim Butler have set up a medical fund for Talsey at Patriot Bank. The Stafford Sheriff's Office has arranged to provide meals for the family for at least three months. And a number of school and community groups have done or planned things to help Talsey.
``Talsey is not the type of person to give up, and we're going to support him as best we can,'' Robin Butler said.
Linda Cunningham said she and her husband, Jack, are grateful for all the support. ``It's been uncanny,'' she said.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB