TIMBER LAKE — Braylen Hansen is tackling cancer with positivity, strength and his upbeat personality.   

In September, the Timber Lake High School senior was diagnosed with nodular sclerosis classic Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymph nodes in the immune system. 

Hansen naturally feared for the worse when diagnosed with cancer. But instead of moping around or feeling sorry for himself, he’s making the best of a dire situation. 

“I realized that you can’t just sit there and be scared forever about it,” Hansen said. “You just have to take it head on and make some short-term sacrifices to have a good rest of your life. There’s no reason to stay mad about anything because there’s nothing anyone could have done about it.”

It’s not the first time Hansen has experienced a health scare. In the seventh grade, Hansen went into cardiac arrest and suffered through diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication of diabetes that occurs when the body does not have enough insulin to use glucose for energy. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

But that health scare could not have prepared Hansen’s mother, Lyndsey Ducheneaux, for his cancer diagnosis. 

But her son’s positive attitude has helped ease the situation. She said Braylen, who is affectionately known as Bobo, “handles everything with a joke and a smile,” and is attacking cancer with grace and strength. 

Timber Lake's Braylen Hansen high fives teammates prior to a Panther football game this season. (Marie Du Preez / Courtesy photo)

Hansen first noticed a lump on his groin in August, and the cancer diagnosis became all too real after multiple hospital visits. Doctors discovered a 12-inch by 5-inch lesion and the iliac crest of Hansen’s hip area was completely destroyed.

Hansen was diagnosed with Stage 3 nodular sclerosis classic Hodgkin's lymphoma, attacking his pelvic region and chest. 

The diagnosis meant Hansen, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound all-conference lineman, couldn’t play football his senior season. 

“They said if I happen to even fall on my left side, I could break my pelvis,” Hansen said. “So that was a no to any football this year after I already started, which is a big bummer. I would do anything to be out on the field with the team right now.”

Hansen, however, is making the best of the situation and is still actively involved with the team. He’s constantly hyping up his teammates on the sidelines and acts as another coach for the Panthers. 

“Being around the team, that’s very important to me,” said Hansen, who was recently voted as Timber Lake’s homecoming king. “I’ll still go to practices and go to team meetings. I am on the sideline helping coaches with everything. I am just an extra eye on the field. So I try to be there as much as I can with the situation we have.”

While Hansen has lifted up his teammates, Timber Lake has done the same for him and his family. There’s been multiple community fundraisers for Hansen, and “73 Strong” and “Brave Like Braylen” T-shirts are worn throughout the community of 500 people.

“The community has been amazing,” Hansen said. “There’s been so many fundraisers and donations that have been made to help with the medical bills, which is really helping. I have no doubt that this is one of the best communities around if you have any sort of problems.”

Ducheneaux echoed her son’s sentiments about the community support. 

“That is something that is absolutely breathtaking,” Ducheneaux said. “There are no words to adequately describe the support and outpouring of love that our town and neighbors have given us. I didn’t know that the caring and generosity and level of prayer and support that people could offer existed. It’s amazing.”

Hansen is currently undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and will have a scan in November to examine the status of his cancer. While Hansen’s senior football season was taken away from him, his next goal is to qualify for the state track and field meet in the spring. 

“You have to make some short-term sacrifices to have a long and healthy life after all,” Hansen said. “You just gotta do what you gotta do and get it done as fast as you can.”

Timber Lake's Braylen Hansen (73) watches the action from the sidelines during a Panther football game earlier this season. (Marie Du Preez / Courtesy photo)