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- Young Father Overcomes Stage IV Cancer with Immunotherapy
October 30, 2025
In February 2018, then 29-year-old Austin Hill was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage IV gastric (stomach) cancer. He was immediately referred to a doctor at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Austin decided to act quickly and took steps to eradicate the cancer. His treatment involved the removal of his stomach and part of his abdominal lining followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). During the HIPEC procedure, Austin’s abdomen was filled with heated chemotherapy drugs.
There were some rough days during recovery, especially with 4 small children and a J-tube (tube placed in the midsection of the small intestine for nutrients). Fortunately, his wife, Andrea, is a nurse, and alongside his physical therapy sessions, she kept a chart of how frequently Austin should get out of his chair, go for a short walk, etc. Additionally, Austin learned to find a nutritional balance of food by working with a dietitian and embracing a trial-and-error approach to help regain his stunning 50-pound weight loss.
Dr. Jeffrey M Holzbeierlein:
"I think, Austin's a great example of how far we've come in cancer treatment. You know, I think ten years ago, certainly 15, 20 years ago, he would not be alive today.
"I think, Austin's a great example of how far we've come in cancer treatment. You know, I think ten years ago, certainly 15, 20 years ago, he would not be alive today.
And we certainly wouldn't have the options of, potentially curing somebody or, you know, significantly extending their life. So it really does demonstrate, I think, the significant advances in cancer treatment that we've had. The other thing that I love about Austin Story is the multidisciplinary care that he received and how critical that is. We talk a lot about that here and how important that is.
But he's a really great example. And so you're not only was he seeing disease specific medical oncologist who knew about the latest treatments for his disease, but he also had a great surgical team. And that surgical team provided treatments for Austin that really aren't done anywhere else."
Statistically, there was only a 7% chance Austin would survive his stage IV cancer diagnosis. That said, patients are not statistics and Austin’s healthcare team looked at his needs as an individual with cancer. When Austin did not respond to chemotherapy, doctors at the cancer center told him he qualified for an immunotherapy regimen. Instead of killing the cells with chemotherapy, they decided to reprogram his immune system to attack his cancer cells. This treatment may not work for everyone, but it did for Austin.
Immunotherapy worked so well for Austin because he has a special mutation called MSI (microsatellite instability). Through immunotherapy, his own immune system was used to fight the cancer. After more than 50 immunotherapy sessions, Austin’s results came back with no evidence of disease. The goal of immunotherapy is to clear the body of tumor cells.
Austin was about to receive an immunotherapy infusion when he heard the great news. Through tears, he gave his physician a big hug. The moment for him was full circle – he was both diagnosed and treated at the cancer center.
Where is he now?
Austin is back to his workouts and coaching his son. His goals of being with his family drive him. He wants his children to know their dad. He wants to take his son hunting, his daughters to their first daddy-daughter dances, and to be there for his wife – for the rest of their lives.
As with all treatments, individual patient results vary. It is important to discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider.