Navigating Brain Cancer
How One Family Found Support After a Life‑Changing Diagnosis
John and Lori Goff
On Sunday, Dec. 14, John Goff, 73, was driving to work at Baer Goff Financial Services when he was in a car accident. He had suffered a seizure and was taken to Bryan West Campus.
“I’ve got good news and bad news,” the emergency medicine doctor told John and Lori, his wife of 40 years. “You’re not hurt from the accident, but you have a brain tumor.”
John spent the next couple of days in the hospital as the news sank in for him, his wife, their three sons and wives. From there, everything moved quickly.
Tuesday – Brain Surgery
Dr. Andrew Livingston, a neurosurgeon with Neurological and Spinal Surgery, removed a 1.5‑inch tumor from John’s left temporal lobe. During surgery, preliminary pathology confirmed it was a high‑grade glioma, likely primary brain cancer.
“The first few days, there were a lot of tears,” John said. “You have this vision that you’ll go on 15 more years, and now maybe not.”
Wednesday – Tumor Board
John’s care team acted quickly and presented his case at the Bryan Neuro Tumor Board, which happened to meet the next morning. The board brings together specialists – neurosurgeons, radiologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and a nurse navigator – to review patient cases, scans and pathology, then collaborate on individualized treatment plans.
Later that day, medical oncologist Dr. Steven Dunder and radiation oncologist Dr. Mark Stavas, both of Cancer Partners of Nebraska, visited John and Lori in the hospital. They shared that they suspected the tumor was a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and most aggressive type of brain cancer.
Nurse Navigator Stacy Boden (center) meets with John and Lori Goff at the April Sampson Cancer Center cafe.
Thursday – Nurse Navigator
Bryan oncology nurse navigator Stacy Boden visited the family while they were still at Bryan West Campus.
“Stacy was just a bright light,” John said. “The entire medical team has given us whatever time we needed.”
As a nurse navigator, Stacy helps patients and caregivers understand diagnoses and treatment options, provides emotional support and serves as a consistent point of contact. She specializes in brain, spine, head and neck cancers and also attends the neuro tumor board.
“For me, my head was just spinning,” said Lori, a retired high school teacher who now owns Jilly’s Socks ‘n Such.
How am I going to handle this? John is my rock. That’s the day Stacy came in and I just knew I could talk to her. There were so many medical terms … Stacy was hugs, compassion and such a personal touch to me.
— Lori Goff, wife
Stacy emphasizes that while the person with cancer is central, the caregiver needs attention too. “I try to be in tune with the caregivers,” she said. “They’re the glue that holds everything together. I remind them to keep up with their nutrition and take care of themselves, too.”
Two Months Later
John is nearly finished with the first part of his glioblastoma treatment – six weeks of daily radiation (Monday through Friday) at the April Sampson Cancer Center and a daily chemotherapy pill. He will take one month off treatment, then take a higher-dose chemo pill five days a month for six months. The couple is also considering Optune Gio, an FDA-approved wearable device that uses electric fields to disrupt the division of brain cancer cells.
Other than some fatigue, he feels well and remains in good spirits.
He calls himself a “happy cancer victim” and believes staying positive and being surrounded by support makes a big difference.
He tells friends, “I’d love to go to dinner, but we’re not going to talk about cancer all night.”
Stacy continues to check in with both John and Lori every couple of weeks. Lori appreciates knowing that Stacy is just a phone call away.
“It’s hard to stay positive all the time,” Lori said. “But I believe strongly in 'faith over fear.'”
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