“You have grade 4 adenocarcinoma.”
The Costa Rican doctor looks straight into the eyes and tells the diagnosis without hesitation. The recipient of the information is the star of the Finnish pool billiards Mika Immonenwithin which there is turmoil.
It is the beginning of December 2023. Immonen has found out that he has aggressive colon and rectal cancer. It is a relief, however, that the cause of the months-long pain has finally been found.
The road to getting a diagnosis was long.
– For a few months, I wasn’t feeling normal. Sometimes there was a bit of constipation, sometimes too much action in the other direction. We had to find out if it was something more serious or temporary. I visited quite a few doctors, even in different countries, says Immonen via video call from his home in New York, USA.
Immonen has lived in Issa Omena since the beginning of the millennium and has gotten used to the local way of life that relies heavily on the private side of healthcare. When Immonen’s pains started, the system showed its dark side to the Finn.
– When I called the insurance company, they said that everything is fine. But when I went to the doctor, they said there isn’t. It was confusing and lowered morale and interest in trying to find out what the pain was about, says Immonen.
The wall was encountered for the first time at the pool tournament organized in Puerto Rico at the beginning of November. Immonen says that he had to go to the emergency room because of stomach and back pains.
– They only found out that I have a bladder infection and hemorrhoids. Creams and antibiotics were given.
Immonen returned to the tournament with the help of painkillers. However, the body constantly gave signals that the problems are not over.
– Going to the bathroom had to be scheduled before the match, during which you could only take one timeout. Concentrating on the match was frankly not the best, although I played quite well.
The pain continued when Immonen returned to New York. Another visit to the doctor was ahead, but the problem with the insurance had not been resolved during the Puerto Rico tournament. Despite his hesitation, Immonen decided to go to the next big pool competition organized in Osaka, Japan.
– I couldn’t sleep on the flight because of the pain. I took a hot bath at the hotel, and the pains on the flight went away. But in their place came other pains. The pains just changed places.
Immonen lost his first match, after which the top Japanese player Naoyuki Oh approached the Finn.
– They say I looked like a zombie because I had no energy. He (Oi) was that enough is enough.
Oi took Immonen to the hospital, where the Finn underwent blood tests, an ultrasound examination and a computer tomography. The results of the latter were pending completion when Immonen left the hospital and returned to the tournament.
– They said that otherwise it looks good, but they will call later about the results of the shoot.
As if by a miracle, Immonen progressed in the games all the way to the quarterfinals.
– I went into some kind of miraculous hibernation and found a way to win matches. When I knew that something had been done about it, the soul could perhaps rest. I knew I was going at least in some direction. That now we just focus on the games, and things will take care of themselves in time.
After the Games, the hospital called with a succinct message.
– You either come back here or you go somewhere else. Further research needs to be done.
Immonen finally went through the research on the other side of the globe, in Costa Rica, where the next value pool tournament would be held.
– One of my students whom I taught 6-7 years ago in Costa Rica, I knew he was a doctor. I called him and asked for help. He answered that he was an oncologist (a doctor specializing in cancer).
Immonen flew from Osaka via Los Angeles to San José, the capital of Costa Rica. The strain of the 30-hour journey was so great on Immonen’s condition that he ended up directly on a drip after reaching the local clinic.
– I was on a drip for four hours because I was dry. In addition, I was given steroids.
The tests carried out in the following days revealed that Immos has a tumor in his digestive system. The tumor was confirmed to be cancerous by PET imaging, or positron emission tomography, and from a sample taken during surgery. The cancerous tumor was located in the colon and rectum.
If Immonen had passed on his knowledge of pool billiards to his Costa Rican student a few years ago, now it was the student’s turn to enlighten about Immo.
– He said it (the diagnosis) so casually that I was a bit like, should I be relaxed too? Immonen says and laughs.
Did not spread elsewhere
Immonen says that according to research, the cancer has not spread to other internal organs. It significantly improves treatment prognosis. I also feel relieved that the insurance problem has been resolved.
Immonen is currently undergoing cytostatic treatments, the purpose of which is to reduce the size of the tumor. There is one treatment procedure done last week. The next one comes on Boxing Day.
After the cytostatic treatments, there will likely be a period of radiation therapy, followed by either surgery or immunotherapy.
– There have been 37 immunotherapy patients at the hospital where I am being treated in New York. The cure rate is one hundred for now.
– However, it is not yet known whether I am suitable for immunotherapy. It depends on what type of cancer this is exactly. It is still being investigated. It should be resolved today or tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
Weight dropped by 11 kilos
Immonen is known in pool circles as a player who has always taken care of his physical condition. As proof of that, Immonen has run several marathons, among other things.
Despite this, the body, where there is no “extra”, has experienced a drastic transformation in recent weeks.
– For the past ten years, my weight has usually been 77 kilos. It has lost 11 kilos within a month.
Immonen can only enjoy food in pureed form, which poses its own challenges for weight management. So that the weight does not fall from the current one, the number of meals is increased daily to 4–5.
– Mutsi and his girlfriend have forced me to eat even when I don’t feel like it.
– I am preparing myself for the next treatment period (on Boxing Day). I want to go into it stronger and so that the weight would be more than the current 66 kilos.
Peer support was found nearby
Because Immonen is undergoing treatments that weaken his immunity, he will have to avoid moving in large crowds for the near future. Help with physical well-being is provided by the yoga teacher, whom Immonen washed before the treatments began.
– It turned out that my teacher had the same cancer and that he has recovered from it. He knows exactly what my situation is.
– It’s confusing how this universe works.
At the beginning of cancer treatments, patients often suffer from strong and sudden symptoms of fatigue, and Immonen is no exception. This interview was moved forward during the day because Immonen suffered a severe fatigue attack just a moment before the start.
– You can get over them by taking a nap, Immonen states and grins.
– I am an eternal optimist and a fighter. Yes, we will get over this. I feel that the direction of the ship has been turned. I am the captain, and this alien inside me travels on a pump. It may be allowed to admire the scenery for a little while longer, but it will be shrunk little by little and then kicked out into the yard.
Immonen told about his cancer diagnosis a little over a week ago in a press release issued by the Finnish Billiards Association. An avalanche of feedback followed.
– The encouragement has been wild, intoxicating and wonderful. I got a lot of strength from it.
According to Immonen, the disease has also brought more perspective to life.
– I feel great respect for all those who have experienced cancer or are currently going through it.
Hoping to return in May
Although Immonen has retired from the competitive arenas of pool billiards for the time being, he has not left the sport. As a goal-oriented person, he has also drawn a possible return competition, the UK Open next May, on his calendar.
– I’m really excited to participate. I’m burning with the desire to play again. Just before the first cytostat, I went to my friend’s gym, where I had the opportunity to play hygienically in peace. At the weekend, you have to be able to play before the next treatment.
– I am 100% sure that when I return to the games, I will be better as a player and mentally stronger. I already know that. This is a storm warning. I have never given up yet. And I’m not going to now either.