Tests show no cancer, dad says

SANDY — Parker Jensen and his family announced Thursday that new medical tests show the 12-year-old boy does not have cancer.

Parker announced the results of tests conducted at a Boise hospital while standing in front of a bank of microphones, TV cameras, reporters, family members and friends gathered on the front lawn of his family's house.

"The results are that they didn't find any cancer at all," said Parker, who then raised his voice to add, "and the state of Utah needs to leave us alone."

The family's announcement, however, did little to end the months-long saga that has pitted the Jensens against state officials.

The latter offered a caveat to the Jensens' announcement.

"We don't have all the test results yet, and we don't have the doctor's recommendation," DCFS spokeswoman Carol Sisco said Thursday.

Martin Johnston, the oncologist who tested Parker at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, contacted DCFS director Richard Anderson Thursday because he had more test results that he still needed to share with the family.

Sisco said the information was "important" but did not know any specifics.

Parker's father, Daren Jensen, told ABC4 news Thursday night that the doctor had contacted his family and informed them that he would be recommending chemotherapy for Parker. The doctor also said he was stepping down from the case "because he's tired of being the Gestapo for the state of Utah," Jensen told the station. Sisco said she could not confirm the doctor had recommended Parker receive chemotherapy or resigned from the case.

Johnston did not return calls Thursday.

Daren Jensen emerged from his house less than one hour following his family's press conference to show reporters what he said were the results of three new tests from Johnston — a bone scan and blood test, an MRI and a CT scan — in which doctors found no signs of cancer in Parker.

"I have all the tests here," he said. "He (Johnston) gave us the tests on Monday. He said they were all clear."

Jensen said he had not spoken with the doctor on Thursday about further test results, which state officials said the family had not yet received.

Jensen said he assumed the state was referring to an earlier tissue sample taken from Parker. The family said they do not trust Johnston because "he lied to us so many times."