Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
CLEARFIELD — Chris Bryant was experiencing back pain severe enough that he went to the doctor. When the pain didn't subside and he began losing a substantial amount of weight, he underwent more testing including a CT scan that revealed tumors throughout his body. A biopsy of those tumors concluded a fear that he knew all too well: he had cancer.
Bryant, 48, would be the third of his siblings to be diagnosed with cancer due to a genetic abnormality they each carry called Lynch syndrome.
Lynch syndrome is a condition that increases the likelihood of cancers at an earlier age, as was the case with Bryant and his siblings. His younger sister, Sara Bryant-Hart, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 38, in 2016; and his younger brother, Phillip Bryant, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 40, just eight weeks after his sister, also in 2016. It was these back-to-back diagnoses that prompted the siblings to get genetic testing, revealing the rare syndrome.
While both siblings have made a full recovery and are in remission, Chris Bryant's diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2023 was met with a hopeless prognosis.
"I had a biopsy done, and then they came back and said I had pancreatic cancer," he explained. "I had my whole family with me at the time, because everybody was really concerned. The doctor told me that they were going to put me on palliative care and give me painkillers until I die."
Chris Bryant expressed deep sorrow that came over him as he faced the possibility of leaving behind his wife of 25 years and their four children. While grappling with his new reality, he leaned on the experience of his two siblings and decided to get a second opinion.
"Sarah had been treated at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, so she called her oncologist," Chris Bryant recalled. "We knew we had Lynch syndrome, so we went into Huntsman and met with one of their primary oncology team members who never once said they were going to put me on palliative care. The doctor had high hopes — because they specialize in the genetic research side of things."
With a new outlook on life, Chris Bryant began treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute Farmington facility, with rigorous treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. And, while the fear of losing his battle with cancer isn't as dire as it once was, the fear of being able to provide for his family has been heightened.
Service was his way of life
Chris Bryant is the sole financial provider for his family, working as an IT specialist, but, according to his sister, serving others is what drives him.
"Chris is the oldest and is the most skilled at everything," Bryant-Hart said. "He is a jack of all trades, and if you need anything done — your kitchen refinished, your car work done or concrete pad laid — Chris is your guy. When my other brother was going through chemo, Chris went up and helped rebuild part of his fence, on top of just the normal, 'I love you and support you.' He's a pretty incredible person."
Chris Bryant admitted not being able to help others has been one of the hardest things he has had to experience.
"My daughter's car broke down, and I am usually the one who fixes it," he said. "We're remodeling our house, and I couldn't lift a tool to do any work or stand up long enough to do anything. I could barely make it up and down the stairs, and I couldn't cook or do laundry. For me, I was just devastated. I felt like an invalid, and I still do to some extent."
Chris Bryant has still been able to work his job from the confines of his bed and said he is grateful to be able to do that, adding that it has been a struggle. He spoke about the loving care of his wife who is his "rock," but said being in a position of being on the receiving end has been a challenge.
"My wife has taken 100% of the responsibility over not only the household, but my care, and has been my rock through it all," he said. "I have breakdowns, especially on the early side of things when I thought I was going to die. My wife has pulled me through every time I have lows or feel guilty that I'm not able to contribute around the house."
"I believe service is one of the best things you can do in your life," he continued. "It's important to be someone who is thoughtful of others and service-oriented, and it's frustrating that I can't do any of that right now."
Turning suffering into help and advocacy
Service must be a way of life in the entire Bryant family, though, because Bryant-Hart has taken what could be generations of tragedies and made it a goal to help both her older brother and generations to come.
If you know that you have a certain kind of syndrome, you have to be your own best advocate; and having genetic testing done will help them (doctors) know how to best treat you.
–Sara Bryant-Hart
She started a GoFundMe* account to help Chris Bryant pay his medical bills so he can continue to provide for his family, and she is encouraging her nieces and nephews to get genetic testing. She has also been sharing her family's story in hopes that it might save other people's lives.
"People don't typically get these types of cancers until they're in their 60s or 70s, which is why you start getting your colonoscopy when you turn 55," she explained. "If you have this genetic syndrome, they'll start screening a lot earlier."
Bryant-Hart said many of her nieces and nephews have tested positive for Lynch syndrome, which has prompted early screenings because treatment is more likely to be successful when the cancer is caught early.
"If you know that you have a certain kind of syndrome, you have to be your own best advocate; and having genetic testing done will help them (doctors) know how to best treat you," she said.
Bryant-Hart recently shared her cancer story on the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute website, with additional information and resources for those seeking answers. She has also been sharing updates on her brother on his GoFundMe* page.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
