Mashaun Simon is a preacher, teacher, writer and scholar — and now a cancer survivor.
After losing his close friend and pastor to colorectal cancer in 2020, the 46-year-old Atlanta resident feared he might be diagnosed with cancer one day himself.
“I walked through cancer treatment with him for several years, and I ultimately lost my best friend,” Mashaun shared.
Earlier that year, he learned he had diverticulosis — a condition where small pouches in the colon can flare up if food becomes trapped in them. The trapped food can cause an infection known as diverticulitis. His doctor told him repeated flare-ups could raise his colon cancer risk. That news, along with the loss of his friend to colon cancer, forced him to focus more on his physical health. He started monitoring his blood pressure, seeing his primary care provider regularly, hired a friend to be his personal trainer, and eventually began going to the gym on his own.
“It all brought me to a heightened awareness about my body — losing my best friend to cancer, a new focus on my own health and the discovery of my diverticulosis,” he said.
In late 2024, Mashaun experienced what he thought were two bouts of diverticulitis. The first, in November, came with abdominal pain and fever. His doctor prescribed antibiotics, which helped. But when pain returned weeks later, he went to the emergency room at Northside Hospital Atlanta.
Tests showed he had COVID-19, but fearing another diverticulitis flare-up, Mashaun requested a CT scan. The scan revealed no diverticulitis — but it did uncover a 3-centimeter mass on his mesentery, the membrane that attaches digestive organs to the abdominal wall. Due to his vigilance, the tumor was detected relatively early.
He was referred to a general surgeon, who reviewed his scans and advised him to contact a specialist in liver and pancreas diseases due to the location of the mass. Using his journalism skills, Mashaun researched and found Atlanta Liver & Pancreas Surgical Specialists, part of the Northside Hospital network.
“I called their office and asked for guidance,” Mashaun said. “I was going into this blind and feeling a bit panicky. The person I spoke with was incredibly patient, gracious and attentive.”
After reviewing his scans, surgical oncologist Dr. Atuhani Burnett advised Mashaun to come in for the next available appointment.
From the start, Mashaun hoped it wasn't, but suspected the mass was cancerous. “I needed someone to lead me with intent and confidence, and Dr. Burnett delivered,” he said.
Dr. Burnett ordered a colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, CT scan and biopsy. The colonoscopy and upper endoscopy would be easy since Mashaun already had a relationship with gastroenterologist Dr. Lori Lucas.
He was impressed by how everyone at Northside was prepared for him. By the time he saw Dr. Lucas’s physician assistant, she had already spoken with Dr. Burnett.
“We were able to hit the ground running.”
A few days after his biopsy, he was scheduled for a PET scan, which he knew was used to detect cancer. Dr. Burnett explained that the PET scan would provide a closer look at what they were facing.
“Dr. Burnett’s personal attention made all the difference to me,” Mashaun recalled.
On March 18, Mashaun learned he had metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma — a rare and hard-to-diagnose cancer that often goes undetected until it’s advanced. The PET scan showed two tumors: one in his small bowel and another on the mesentery, which was a metastasis.
“Though the waiting was hard, I appreciate Dr. Burnett for being calculated and careful in determining exactly what it was, where it was and how he was going to remove the cancer,” Mashaun said. “My mother does also. His thoroughness gave me a lot of confidence and peace. Dr. Burnett’s precision likely saved my life!”
On April 7, Dr. Burnett performed major abdominal surgery to remove both tumors and repair an old hernia. He also removed part of Mashaun’s small intestine and the right side of his colon, along with 34 lymph nodes — eight of which tested positive for cancer.
The next day, Dr. Burnett visited and said confidently, “I got ALL of the cancer!”
With gratitude, Mashaun replied, “Let me shake your hand.”
After nine weeks of recovery, Mashaun returned to work in early June. He’s thankful for the care and support of his village, which includes family members, coworkers, friends and his husband, Elvis, during his diagnosis and recovery.
In October, he had his first set of scans following surgery. They all came back clean. He and his doctors discussed further treatment and monitoring moving forward.
Since his diagnosis, Mashaun has become more intentional with his life. “Get ready,” he told Elvis the day of his diagnosis. “It’s gas to the floor from here on out!”
The couple took a Mediterranean cruise this summer, and Mashaun plans to release his first book this fall. He is also on track to graduate from his doctoral program at the end of 2025.
Cancer has prompted Mashaun to prioritize his well-being more. He isn’t focused on finding deeper purpose in his life because he got cancer. Rather, he’s committed to living the life he already has fully.
“I don’t know why I got cancer, and I don’t need to know,” he said. “The mysteries of God are supposed to be mysteries, and we waste energy trying to solve what isn’t ours to know.
“Cancer happened to me, and it’s giving me perspective about how I want to live. That’s all I need to know. My job is to live; God’s purpose will happen.”
Learn more about Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s expertise in endocrine cancer care.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
