Twenty-year old cancer patient reflects on care journey and meaning of survivorship.
David Bonham had just celebrated his 20th birthday and was working hard to wrap up the fall semester at Coastal Carolina University when he felt the first sharp and sudden pain in his left groin area. He went to a local urgent care center but the medication they prescribed didn’t help much at all; the pain would come and go, but was very intense. A few weeks later, with his final exams complete, David headed home to Maryland for winter break and to celebrate the holidays with his family. When his pain became so strong that he could hardly stand, his mom insisted on going to the hospital.
The hospital closest to his mother’s home is MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, and David’s trip to its Emergency Department proved to be a lifechanging visit. A CT scan was ordered and confirmed the unthinkable: he had testicular cancer. Shortly after receiving this news, David was introduced to Pragnan Kancharla, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist at MedStar Health who took the lead on assessing his test results and mapping out a recommended treatment plan. Through his early conversations with Dr. Kancharla, David learned that he needed both chemotherapy and surgery, and that it was crucial for both to happen quickly.
“I lost it and cried for a while when I first got the news,” recalls David. “But once I was admitted to the oncology unit, I realized it was important to shift my perspective. I met a nurse who lifted my spirits when she told me that testicular cancer is curable. I focused on that and chose to be positive with the mindset that I am young and strong, and could get through it.”
Through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and preparing for surgery, David maintained that focus—pushing through the hard days by surrounding himself with family and friends and relying on continuous care and support from Dr. Kancharla and the rest of his dedicated oncology team. A few months into his treatment, David had a scan that unfortunately presented more devastating news; the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, and a mass was wrapped around the blood vessels surrounding his kidney. David was ultimately admitted to the hospital for monitoring and around-the clock care, as he underwent another round of intense treatment; a powerful mix of medications that would aggressively attack the cancerous cells growing in his body.
“It was difficult to share this news with David because at the time of his initial diagnosis, his prognosis was excellent,” said Dr. Kancharla. “Only a small percentage of patients diagnosed with testicular cancer experience metastasis and unfortunately, he landed in that two to five percent. As a physician, it is heartbreaking to see someone so young go through something this challenging. However, David had a good attitude. He wanted to fight, and we made sure he knew we were right there, fighting alongside him and supporting him every step of the way.”
Despite the setbacks he was experiencing, David remained confident he was in the right place for the very highest quality care. He trusted Dr. Kancharla and the entire oncology team that was administering his treatment plan. Even on his most challenging days, or at times when he felt scared, David maintained hope and choose to believe that he would eventually be well enough to return to college and life as he knew it, before his diagnosis. In January 2025, he had another follow-up scan—and it confirmed the fight he put up had been worthwhile.
“They told me there was no evidence of disease,” said David. “It took me a while to process the news. I was happy, but when you go through something like this, it’s hard to forget about all of your fears. What I wanted most was simply get back to school and start living my normal life again.”
David returned to Coastal Carolina for the spring 2025 semester, excited to be re-enrolled in classes and back on track in pursuit of a degree in accounting. Since then, he has made it a priority to enjoy life’s simple pleasures—spending time with his friends, playing soccer, and producing music. At the same time, he is taking every step possible to maintain his good health. He continues to see Dr. Kancharla when he comes home to Maryland for school breaks and holidays, with scans scheduled every six months.
“Being a cancer survivor has grounded me and made me realize how important it is to surround yourself with people who uplift you and care about you,” said David. “Everyone has a worth and through cancer, I learned mine.”
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