Britton Caillouette: Still Cancer Free after 10 Years

Britton Caillouette is an amazing young man. As an eighth grader, Britton’s life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with a very aggressive osteosarcoma in his left femur. The treatment to cure this cancer is very complicated. Britton’s father is one of Hoag’s leading orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Jamie Caillouette, and he knew that if Britton had knee replacement surgery at this age, he would have to have it replaced several times during his lifetime.

After completing chemotherapy treatment, Britton and his family chose to do bone graph surgery in Seattle. After surgery, Britton suffered complications when a vein was blocked with a blood clot and he underwent angioplasty. Chemotherapy was now too risky. He continued to persevere with chronic pain and required crutches. Fast forward a couple years later, Britton had endured many treatments, but was once again enjoying life as a sophomore at Sage Hill and had started dating a girl named Carrie. During a routine scan of his lungs, a nodule was found which meant that his cancer was in Stage II. Surgery was required to remove the nodule.

Chemotherapy was still considered too risky. Soon after the surgery, Britton felt pain in his knee. He thought it was from a broken screw in the bone marrow graph. His family and Carrie traveled back to Seattle, but the news was not good. Another tumor was found in Britton’s leg and he underwent an amputation. Britton's tumor cells were brought to Hoag Cancer Institute's Cell Biology Lab where they created a patient-specific vaccine from his cells. Britton was injected once a month for six months and then was fitted with a prosthesis.

“He never complained or felt sorry for himself,” shared his mother Dori Koll, “he always remained and continues to remain positive.” Britton graduated from Sage Hill and attended Stanford University. He is following his dream and is a partner in a film production company called High Low Film, with an emphasis on documentaries. In August, Britton married his high school sweetheart Carrie and they live in San Francisco with their Irish wolfhound. One of the guests who attended their wedding was Dr. Michael Brant - Zawadzki, Executive Medical Director of Hoag Neurosciences, who initially treated Britton when he was first diagnosed with cancer. He told Britton, all those years ago, he would dance at his wedding and indeed he did! Britton is celebrating 10 years cancer free!