Like many high school juniors, Philip Williams wants to go to the prom April 26.
Hurdles for most include finding a date and getting a tuxedo. But for Williams, it's survival.

PHILIP WILLIAMS (left) and his friend
Jonathon Chimosky enjoy an ice cream
treat in Suttons Bay last summer.

For the past seven months, the 17-year-old Bingham Township student has been waging a fight against Stage 3 testicular cancer with metastasis to his abdomen and lungs.

“It’s good to be home,” said Williams, who is recuperating after three rounds of chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants at DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, and will be the subject of a benefit dinner next month. “I missed it … but it’s kinda hard to get used to.”

Prior to his October departure for Grand Rapids, he attended school and had a positive attitude, communicating clearly with his classmates about his condition. He even gave a presentation on living with cancer. He’s been unable to attend school or be a part of large groups for 100 days following his Jan. 9 stem cell transplant. His weakened immune system makes it difficult to fight germs, but he is able to receive visitors in the home he shares with his dad, Phil, a retired county Sheriff’s deputy.

His mother, Mary, died in November 2006.

“I had lost a lot of weight. I’m eating a lot more and have been able to gain some back,” said Phil, who spends much of his time with longtime friend Jonathon Chimosky and a 13-year-old niece. “We play board games and video games.”

Between treatments over the four-month period from October through January, Williams was allowed to go home briefly at Christmas and New Year’s, but spent much of the time in Grand Rapids. Through the months of intense and insolating treatment, he battled high fevers, weakness, painful mouth lesions, a 50 percent hearing loss and 75 percent weakening of one kidney.

He initially became ill during the Suttons Bay High School Adventure Club’s spring break camping trip in the Appalachian Mountains. He was formally diagnosed in June and has been undergoing treatment since. Tests earlier this month have shown him to have a reduced number of cancer cells, though he is not cancer-free. He is scheduled to undergo surgery March 20 at the Indianapolis University Medical Center to remove the tumor that encompasses his kidneys and abdominal aorta.

“They’re the best surgeons to do the job,” said the young man, who aspires to pursue a career in drama.

The medical center is also where seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was treated successfully for his testicular cancer.

To date, the Williams family has declined many personal offers of help from the school community and others. However, that has changed now that Beth Urban of Suttons Bay and Martha Williams of Suttons Bay are organizing a benefit dinner for him on Saturday, March 15.

“Throughout all the phases of treatment, there’s not been one inkling of complaint,” said Urban, whose son, Nick Bardenhagen, is one of Williams’ friends. “He had to have another port (surgically placed) and never complained. He told Nick, ‘It’s OK, chicks dig guys with scars.’ “There’s something about Phil, an innocence, that inspires me to help,” Urban said.

The benefit pasta dinner, with proceeds going toward medical costs, will be held at Suttons Bay School. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children 13 and under, and $20 per family. There is no charge for children under the age of 5.

Updates on his condition may be found at www.freewebs.com/supportphilwilliams. Donations of time, goods, services or money may also be made at the website, or by calling Urban at 271-0932 or Suttons Bay High School at 271-8603.

Donations can be made to the Philip Williams Benefit Fund at Traverse City State Bank.