Stan’s Cancer Journey: Phase 1 Research Brings Hope
It’s around 1 p.m. at the Nebraska Cancer Specialists’ infusion center. There’s a flurry of activity—nurses and medical staff buzz between patients administering life-saving cancer treatment.
But one particular patient wasn’t supposed to be here today. Meet Stan. Just seven months ago, Stan had decided to stop chemotherapy for his advanced lung cancer. He thought his time had come.
Today, Stan gets up from his infusion chair because his wife and daughter are here bringing him lunch, just like they do every infusion day.
“It breaks up the day for him – he comes at 8am and stays until 5pm,” says his daughter, Valerie. “So my mom and I bring him lunch from different places and eat with him.”
Stan’s cancer journey began in early 2023 when a routine chest X-ray revealed concerning findings. Initially diagnosed with stage 3A lung cancer, Stan underwent treatment, and for a brief period, it seemed he was on the path to recovery. However, a follow-up checkup brought devastating news – the cancer had metastasized.
Despite this grim prognosis, Stan and his family decided to try additional rounds of grueling chemotherapy to prolong his life. These treatments took a severe toll on Stan’s health. At one point, the chemotherapy became so intense that Stan ended up in the ICU, battling pneumonia on top of his cancer.
“We almost lost him this past February,” Valerie recalled, describing a harrowing night when her father fell and couldn’t get up, leading to an emergency hospital stay. It was after this experience Stan thought he was done fighting.
But just as conventional treatments seemed to be failing, Stan’s oncologist, Dr. Michalski, continued searching for alternatives.
“At NCS, we all strive to innovate. Having one of the largest, if not THE largest, community oncology research programs in the country allows our patients unprecedented access to new and exciting therapeutics. Some of my proudest moments I have is when our team helps a patient get access to an opportunity without having to switch to a new health system or even harder, get on an airplane. Spending the extra time to find a phase one option we feel can target a patient’s unique tumor biology is absolutely worth it,” said Medical Oncologist, Joel Michalski.
His persistence paid off when he discovered a promising Phase 1 clinical trial. Phase 1 trials represent the first time a drug is tested in humans, focusing on safety, dosage, and initial efficacy. For patients with advanced cancers who have exhausted standard treatment options, phase 1 trials offer hope and access to potentially groundbreaking therapies. This new approach provided a ray of hope for Stan and his family.
“I had a really good feeling about it,” said Lindsey Becker, Clinical Research Coordinator, contrasting this trial with previous options. “We have safety calls for this trial every two weeks, and you hear great stories about how patients at other clinics are doing, and it’s a drug that’s helping a lot of people, and they’re staying on it for a long time and seeing good results.” The family discussed the opportunity at length before deciding to proceed.
For Stan, the decision to join the trial was driven by a desire to take action against his growing tumor. “I wanted to get on something to keep this from growing,” he explained, noting the visible lump in his chest that had become increasingly concerning.
The path to starting the trial wasn’t smooth. Stan had to recover from his previous treatments and deal with additional health complications. However, by May, he was able to begin the new treatment regimen.
Since starting the trial, Stan has shown remarkable improvement. “This trial has really helped,” Lindsey noted. His overall cancer burden is down nearly 55%. He also has energy and stamina that he hasn’t had for a long time.
“I moved into my parent’s house this past weekend to be a help to them, and my dad is lifting boxes and moving things I never thought he’d be able to do again,” Valerie says tearfully. “This trial has given me my dad back. He’s so much happier and has a better outlook on life.”
Stan gives some advice to anyone considering entering a clinical trial – just do it. “Do the trial. Don’t think about it. Talk to your doctors, and talk to the research group. Do what they suggest. They’re bringing it to you for a reason. They have researched what kind of cancer you have. They’ve researched the DNA inside of that cancer. They know what they’re talking about.”
Stan, not a man to mince words, ends our interview with one more thought, “Sign the paperwork and do it. I would have been gone by now if I hadn’t.”
Stan and his family remark how incredible the communication has been through the whole process. They are always fully informed about what is going on and what is upcoming.
Stan will remain in Phase 1 of the trial. The drug may move into additional phases because of its success, but Stan will remain in Phase 1, knowing he was part of not only improving his own life but many other cancer patients as well.
Stan’s story is a testament to the advances being made in cancer research and the critical role that clinical trials play in developing new treatments. Access to this type of cutting-edge research right in the Omaha area was crucial to this being a workable option for Stan and his family.
“The trial involves a lot of visits to NCS,” says Stan’s wife, Lynne. “On infusion day, he is here from 8am to 5pm. If we had to travel, we would not have been able to make this work. We are so thankful to have this opportunity in our area.”
Stan and his family’s courage and dedication during this clinical trial are paving the way for countless others to prolong their lives as well.
-Published 9/2024
