NJ teen conquers cancer and powers through the basketball court just days after last chemo

Ridgewood High School senior Johnny Jackson faced a life-changing diagnosis of stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2024.

The news came after months of unexplained health issues, including a sudden 18-pound weight loss during his junior year, which raised concerns for his family, according to NBC New York.

During his junior year, Johnny Jackson pushed through the basketball season despite being at only half his strength, still averaging an impressive 22 points per game.

However, his health was declining, with his weight dropping sharply from 170 to 152 pounds.

Alarmed by his condition, his parents, Joe and Lynsey, worked tirelessly to find answers.

In July, their worst fears were realized when doctors diagnosed Johnny with cancer. A month later, he began undergoing treatment to fight the stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In July 2024, doctors confirmed his diagnosis, and by August, he began intensive chemotherapy treatments.

Johnny’s determination to keep going, both on and off the court, remains a testament to his resilience.

Johnny was determined to keep playing the game he loved despite his diagnosis.

“The one thing that means the world to him, is playing basketball,” Johnny’s mother, Lynsey Jackson, said, adding that while cancer had taken a toll on him, he refused to let it take away his passion for the sport.

“I’m a competitor, so I kind of just faced it like a game, and I was kind of up for the challenge from day one. I knew I was going to take it down,” Jackson said.

From August 12 to December 19, Johnny endured 10 intense chemotherapy sessions, with the final treatment coinciding with the night of Ridgewood High School’s season opener.

Despite the physical challenges due to stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Johnny remained determined to achieve his goal of playing basketball.

His resilience shone through as he scored an impressive 30 points, leading his team to a victory over St. Joe’s of Montvale.

When asked how he performed at such a high level just days after his last chemo session, Jackson said he didn’t have a clear answer—he simply went out and gave it his all.

Johnny Jackson’s journey has inspired the entire Ridgewood community, with his coach and teammates continually impressed by his strength and determination.

Coach Mike Troy called it a extraordinary story that “could be straight out of a movie.”

This season, Johnny has become a powerful symbol of courage, averaging 25 points per game. He remains focused on the future, hoping to be cancer-free soon.

Looking ahead, he also wants to use his experience to inspire others, aiming to motivate young people while moving past this difficult chapter as quickly as possible.

Earlier this month, Johnny Jackson completed his final chemotherapy treatment at the Joseph Sanzari Children’s Hospital, a moment celebrated by his basketball team and family.

They surprised him with an emotional celebration filled with hugs and joy.

While Johnny still needs a PET scan in mid-February to confirm he’s cancer-free, he remains focused on reaching his goal of 2,000 career points.

As of Monday, he is 285 points away from achieving that milestone.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Receiving a stage 4 lymphoma or stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis can be overwhelming. Still, it’s important to remember that some types of the disease are treatable.

Your chances of recovery depend on the specific form of lymphoma you have, as per Healthline.

In 2016, the American Cancer Society projected about 8,500 new cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the United States.

While the disease can be treated, especially in its early stages, survival rates depend on the stage at diagnosis.

For all patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the one-year survival rate is around 92%, and the five-year survival rate is about 86%.

However, the survival rate drops for those diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Even so, it’s still possible to beat the disease, even at this advanced stage.

Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma occurs when the cancer spreads beyond the lymphatic system to other organs, like the liver, lungs, or bone marrow.

Here’s Johnny Jackson, dominating the basketball court despite being diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma: