Vision problem leads to man's stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, new drug extends survival

A erstwhile Ironman triathlete was stunned to larn that his imaginativeness problems were really the archetypal motion of signifier 4 lung cancer.

Dave Nitsche, 57, was initially fixed conscionable 12 to 24 months to unrecorded – but an experimental cause has helped him surpass that timeframe by respective years.

"In 2019, I noticed that I was having occupation seeing with my near eye," the Canadian antheral shared during an interrogation with Fox News Digital. "I went to the optometrist, and they said it was astir apt a detached retina."

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After scans revealed fluid buildup and rising pressure, doctors determined that Nitsche had mislaid imaginativeness successful the oculus — and yet removed it. A biopsy of the fluid revealed that it was cancerous.

Next, Nitsche saw much specialists, who extracted fluid from his lungs for much testing. "The adjacent day, the oncologist told maine that I had signifier 4 lung cancer," helium said. 

Dave Nitsche, pictured successful Calgary, Alberta successful 2025, was stunned to larn that his imaginativeness problems were really the archetypal motion of signifier 4 lung cancer. (Dave Nitsche)

Nitsche said his doctors were "very shocked" to find that his archetypal oculus issues had stemmed from lung crab – peculiarly due to the fact that helium had ne'er been a smoker.

Azam J. Farooqui, MD, a hematology and oncology doc astatine Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers successful Chandler, Arizona, agreed that Nitsche’s lawsuit was "very surprising."

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"Cancer tin find its mode to immoderate precise unusual locations, but the oculus is simply a very, precise uncommon one," Farooqui, who did not dainty Nitsche, told Fox News Digital. "Usually crab volition get determination via a nervus transmission oregon humor vessel, but it’s precise uncommon."

Nitsche, an ex-triathlete who has done aggregate Ironman races, hadn’t experienced immoderate different symptoms different than the oculus issues. "I was moving rather a spot astatine the time," helium shared. "I had a small spot of backmost symptom present and there, but lung crab decidedly wasn’t connected my radar."

Nitsche, an ex-triathlete who has done aggregate Ironman races, hadn’t experienced immoderate different symptoms different than the oculus issues. "I had a small spot of backmost symptom present and there, but lung crab decidedly wasn’t connected my radar." (Dave Nitsche)

His archetypal attraction was a targeted therapy called afatinib, which lasted astir 3 months. When doctors recovered that the crab had dispersed to Nitsche’s brain, helium began taking different medicine called Tegrisso (osimertinib), which crosses the blood-brain barrier.

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After six years, erstwhile those drugs stopped working, Nitsche started taking a chemo cause called Rybrevant (amivantamab), which helium receives via IV infusion each 3 weeks successful a supervised aesculapian setting. After a twelvemonth connected the drug, which is manufactured by Janssen Biotech, Inc. successful Pennsylvania, his scans are looking "very, precise good," helium said.

"There are days that you consciousness beardown and determination are days that you’re a small weaker, but you conscionable set accordingly."

"Science is catching up to maine perfectly with each these drugs that I'm on," Nitsche said. "Now, we'll conscionable hold for the adjacent happening to travel on and we'll leap onto that. But for now, the Rybrevant is moving perfectly."

Nitsche has experienced a fewer broadside effects, but said for the astir part, the cause helium is taking is "very tolerable." (Dave Nitsche)

Nitsche has experienced a fewer broadside effects, chiefly tegument irritation and fingernail infections, but said for the astir part, the cause is "very tolerable."

Compared to the full-dose chemo and different lung crab treatments, Farooqui agreed that Rybrevant is "very manageable."

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Other communal broadside effects tin see infusion reactions, musculus and associated pain, rima sores, swelling, fatigue, nausea, bowel changes, vomiting, cough, shortness of enactment and debased appetite, according to FDA prescribing information.

In uncommon cases, superior effects tin see lung inflammation, humor clots, terrible tegument reactions and oculus problems. Pregnant women should not instrumentality the cause owed to fetal risks.

Embracing his relation arsenic an advocate, Nitsche present speaks openly astir his acquisition and what others should know. (Dave Nitsche)

"If idiosyncratic is having excessively galore broadside effects, oregon if it is feeling excessively aggressive, we tin bash dose reductions," Farooqui noted. "In my experience, we've had patients bash truly good connected it, and we've been capable to negociate their broadside effects without immoderate large concerns."

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Rybrevant has present been approved to dainty definite types of non-small compartment lung crab successful the U.S. and Canada, and Nitsche said a fewer of his friends are besides taking the drug.

"Doctors gave maine a twelvemonth to 2 years – they told maine to get my affairs successful order. And it's been 7 years now," helium said. "I’ll instrumentality it."

"For astir immoderate benignant of cancer, a diagnosis is not a decease sentence."

Nitsche is present preparing for a 600-mile biking expedition successful June to rise consciousness for lung cancer. He credits his endurance grooming and precocious fittingness level with helping to widen his survival. 

"There are days that you consciousness beardown and determination are days that you’re a small weaker, but you conscionable set accordingly," helium said.

Rybrevant has present been approved to dainty definite types of non-small compartment lung crab successful the U.S. and Canada. (iStock)

Embracing his relation arsenic an advocate, Nitsche present speaks openly astir his acquisition and what others should know.

"If you person lungs, you tin get lung crab – but astatine this point, for astir immoderate benignant of cancer, a diagnosis is not a decease sentence," helium said. "They're doing truthful overmuch probe connected it, particularly with lung crab … I've known radical who person lasted 12 to 18 years, truthful for me, 7 years is great. So I'll conscionable support going."

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Farooqui echoed the value of patients "advocating for themselves and getting the astir up-to-date therapy determination is."