After beating cancer, Finn anchored Andover offensive line

Dec. 7—What began as excruciating pain in his left knee while playing backyard football with his friends turned into life-altering news for Andover's Liam Finn.

At just 6-years-old, Finn was diagnosed with cancer — specifically synovial sarcoma — leading to surgery and a decade of trips to Boston Children's Hospital and the famed Jimmy Fund Clinic.

So, when Finn took the football field for the final time, on Thanksgiving Day, the Andover High senior once again took time to reflect on his journey, and the words doctors delivered just over a year ago.

Cancer free.

"Even though I didn't really understand cancer when I was 6-years-old, I knew it was something that was going to impact my life for many years," remembered Finn, a three-year starting offensive lineman who was a major reasons Andover shocked the Massachusetts football world, going 10-2 and advance to the Division 1 semifinals. "I was so emotional when they said the words, 'cancer free.' I'm thankful to the people that saved my life, and thankful to play football for Andover High."

Cancer diagnosis, recovery

Finn had been out playing with friend, when he and his family realized something was wrong.

"It was the summer and I was playing football with my friends in the backyard," he remembered. "I was having the most excruciating pain in my left knee when I would fall down."

Concerned, his parents acted quickly.

"We took him into Children's Hospital and they brought him in for an MRI," said his mom, Kimberly Finn. "Then we went to leave that day in the car. They called us to come right back for another MRI, an ultrasound and a biopsy."

Finn was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that usually occurs near large joints, mainly the knees.

He soon underwent limb-salvage surgery to remove the tumor.

"It felt surreal at first, hearing the word, 'cancer' for your 6-year-old son," said Kimberly. "But we knew we were in the best place we could be with Children's Hospital and the Jimmy Fund Clinic. The surgery removed the tumor along with a good amount of soft tissue and muscle from his hamstring area. Five or six days later, pathology came back that all the margins were clean."

Finn didn't need chemotherapy or radiation, but he would need close monitoring.

Over the next 10 years, Finn underwent 24 MRIs and 24 chest x-rays to ensure the cancer did not return.

Finally, in August of 2022, the Finn family received the news they had waited so long for.

"When I was diagnosed, I was too young to understand what cancer was," said Liam. "But over the years I started to understand what I had been through. When they said, 'cancer free,' it was really emotional, knowing that I may never see those doctors and nurses that had saved my life at the Jimmy Fund Clinic and Children's Hospital."

Added Kimberly: "They felt like his prognoses was so good, after 10 years, they didn't need to see him anymore. It was wonderful, but also felt like, 'Wow, they not going to see him anymore?' They are such amazing doctors and nurses that do such amazing work. We're so thankful to them."

Football standout

When Andover was on offense this fall, nothing starts before the ball is in the hands of Finn.

"I really like being in the middle of the action," he said. "I believe the center is the heart of the offensive line. The ball always starts in my hands, which is fun. I love the position."

Finn actually played quarterback growing up in the Andover Junior Football League, before moving to tight end in eighth grade and finally offensive line in high school.

Sophomore year, I went in as starting center midway through the season," he said. "Last year I moved to guard, then four games into this season I moved back to center. It has meant the world to me to play for Andover High. It's such an amazing program filled with great people. I've built so many bonds with friends, it's been so special."

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