My Cancer Survivor Testimonial
By David Bitran
In early 2020, I was diagnosed with NUT carcinoma, a very rare and aggressive type of cancer. Everyone who has been diagnosed with NUT carcinoma has probably heard that there is no clear treatment for it. It's very new. The prognosis is not very optimistic, and early research doesn't give you a nice picture, either. But I want everyone to know that THERE IS HOPE, and I am proof of it.
I was very fortunate to land on an amazing team at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System.. My ENT doctor, along with my oncologists and ophthalmologists, work together to find not only an immediate treatment, but also a cure that can go past that.
I did my surgery, my chemo, my radiotherapy all together, and my doctors at Sylvester were amazing in contacting other organizations and pharmaceuticals that are also researching and looking for a cure for this rare cancer. It has been almost two years now that I'm on a clinical trial at the Sylvester with BMS 986158, a BET Inhibitor from Bristol Myers Squibb.
It takes time and it's not an easy process, but it can be done. And there are a lot of people there who want to help you, so please talk to your oncologist about joining an already-running clinical trial.
They might even help you get access to the medicines for compassionate use, if not.
I'm not in remission, but I'm stable: two years, eight months and counting. Believe me, that every MRI that shows that I am stable, and stable is a good word, is proof that there is hope for me and for everyone.
Talk to your doctor about clinical trail options. Really. Do it and do it now.
David Bitran
Cancer Fighter, Cancer Survivor, Clinical Research Participant