Piedmont Oncology providers help Columbus college basketball player return to the court

Columbus, Ga. (November 9, 2026) – Promise Idiaru moved to the U.S. in 2025 on a basketball scholarship. One night lying in bed he noticed a bump on his groin. Seeking advice from his medical trainer, he visited Piedmont Columbus Regional primary care and sports medicine physician Siraj Abdullah, D.O.. A biopsy confirmed stage 4 B-cell lymphoma. Promise was in complete shock, thinking as young and healthy as he was that cancer couldn’t happen to him. The diagnosis brought his senior season at Columbus State University to a devastating, abrupt end.

The school helped get his parents here from Germany so they could be with him for his appointment at the John B. Amos Cancer Center with hematologist and medical oncologist Srividya Maharaj, M.D. She created a personalized treatment plan of rigorous chemotherapy treatments for seven months. He was able to stay right across the street from the cancer center at the Family House of West Georgia while he received treatments.

In February, Promise rang the hope bell- signaling the end of his treatment and that his cancer was in remission! Promise says the worst thing in his life is probably the best thing as it changed his whole outlook. He credits the Piedmont Oncology nurses and doctors for being supportive and his church, school and trainer Buddy Dutoit for being so good to him even though he’s still new to town. Promise was granted another year of eligibility to play basketball for the Cougars. Piedmont wishes him well as he gets back on the court as the Cougars start their season tonight!

Visit Piedmont.org/cancer for more information about cancer care at Piedmont.