CancerBlows
In November 2012, Dallas Symphony Orchestra principal trumpet, Ryan Anthony had just completed a guest appearance with his old group, Canadian Brass and wasn’t feeling well. After the concert, Ryan told his wife, Niki, that he felt like his entire body was “jangling” as he ran off-stage.

Recent chronic aches & pains had sent the then 43-yr old to multiple doctors searching for the cause. Blood tests revealed abnormalities but multiple doctors reassured him that “it can’t be cancer” because Ryan was too young to be a candidate for the types of cancers that caused his symptoms. Fortunately one doctor decided to test for cancer “just in case”. The Monday after the Canadian Brass concert, Ryan & Niki got the call that no one anticipates or is prepared for – especially with two young children in elementary school – Ryan had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a terminal cancer of the bone marrow that most often appears in patients 65 and older.

Just ten years ago, multiple myeloma was a death sentence with a life span of 3-5 years. While the cancer is still considered incurable and terminal, recent, rapid advances in research have greatly extended the life span of newly diagnosed patients and hope for a cure is a real possibility. In 2015 alone, three new drugs were approved for treatment of multiple myeloma by the FDA increasing treatment options by 20%.

When he was diagnosed, Ryan’s goal was to survive long enough to see his children, then just 6 and 11-years-old, graduate from high school. But, because he has responded so well to his treatment, Ryan & Niki both dare to hope for more. During his transplant, Ryan was overwhelmed with phone calls from trumpet players all over the world. Everyone asked what they could do to help and Ryan jokingly started saying “we’ll all play a concert when I am healthy again and we’ll call it cancer blows”. As the weeks went by, the joke solidified into a real event with an impressive guest list. Soon Ryan & Niki realized the event could be more than just something for fun but could be used to raise awareness and money to further the research that has helped give their family a hope for a future.

The Ryan Anthony Foundation
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was created in 2014 to manage and support Cancer Blows events. The foundation strives to keep expenses to a minimum and is managed by a talented team of volunteers so that the majority of money given is used for its true purpose – to improve cancer treatment outcomes and ultimately find a cure.

Ryan began playing the trumpet at age 7. A child prodigy, while still in high school Ryan was honored as a Presidential Scholar; was only the second person in history to be awarded the prestigious Seventeen Magazine national solo competition Grand (the other winner was violinist Joshua Bell); and soloed with the Detroit Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. Since graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ryan has had a successful career as a trumpet soloist and clinician – soloing with major orchestras around the world; performing for several years with the Canadian Brass and now acting as Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Thanksgiving Week 2012, at age 43, Ryan received the unbelievable news that he had Multiple Myeloma. At the time of diagnosis his Kappa Light Chains were over 13,000 (normal is less than 19), his bone marrow was 80% cancer cells and included test results showing ‘high risk’ probability. He had his bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday and, on Thursday, played the National Anthem with the DSO to open the annual Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game at ATT Stadium.

Since diagnosis, Ryan has undergone an autologous Stem Cell Transplant and is currently in Complete Remission. He celebrates his 1-year “birthday” on April 19 and receives maintenance treatments at Baylor’s Charles A Sammons Cancer Center every other Friday.

Niki Anthony has over 20 years experience in Marketing and Events. She began her career in the gaming industry as Marketing and Entertainment Manager at resorts in Mississippi. After leaving the gaming industry in 1998, Niki helped form Ericson Group Inc, a Marketing & Entertainment consulting company, as Vice President/COO. After Ryan was diagnosed, Niki stepped back from her administrative work and now handles a number of national accounts.