How a Teenager Helped His Family Cope After His Dad's Colon Cancer Diagnosis

Dylan Kurtz (right) with his parents and brother. Photography courtesy of Dylan Kurtz.

As colorectal cancer rates rise among people under 50, more children may face the challenge of supporting a parent through diagnosis and treatment. Dylan Kurtz, now 22, reflects on his experience at 16, when his father, Jonathan, began chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer. Today, he advocates for colorectal cancer awareness and supports other young people navigating a parent’s diagnosis.

Facing the Diagnosis Together

On Dylan Kurtz’s 16th birthday in 2020, his father started chemotherapy. Kurtz admitted his initial lack of knowledge about colon cancer.

“I didn’t really know much of anything about colon cancer other than it was cancer in the colon. I knew of different types of cancer but didn’t really know anything about what it meant for the person diagnosed, other than that it can be deadly, if it’s caught late.”

His uncertainty about his father’s prognosis deepened until Jonathan explained the treatment plan, which included radiation and months of chemotherapy.

“Then, after my dad talked me through everything that was going to happen, he was going to do radiation and then chemotherapy for a few months, I began to understand how serious it was,”

Supporting Children Through a Parent’s Cancer Journey

Marianne Pearson, MSW, LCSW, vice president of Cancer Care at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, emphasizes the importance of clear, age-appropriate communication.

“[Including] explaining treatments like chemotherapy or radiation and even visiting the cancer center can help reduce fear, while support from oncology-trained professionals can help children feel safer and more secure,”

Kurtz’s father’s diagnosis impacted the entire family. His mother explained that Jonathan’s treatment would limit activities they once enjoyed together, such as attending professional baseball games and outdoor runs.

“I was really sad because all these things that I love to do with my dad tend to be very physically active or involve going places and being very engaged in doing things,”

Adapting to a New Normal

Jonathan’s treatment left him immunocompromised, forcing the Kurtz family to adjust their routines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor runs were replaced with quiet time at home, and trips to baseball games were swapped for assembling 1,000-piece puzzles of stadiums.

“Some of them are hanging in my room now, and some are hanging in my dad’s office. It was something he could do while in treatment. We sat down quietly and had something good to do together.”

Kurtz also took on additional responsibilities, including cooking, cleaning, and caring for his older brother, Steven, who has autism. With summer camps canceled in 2020, he created “Camp Kurtz” to keep Steven engaged and active.