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A father who was told he had six months to a year to live when he fell seriously ill with medullary thyroid cancer in 2019, has exceeded his doctor’s prediction and he hopes others will become “providers of positivity” after hearing her story.
In 2014, David Lew, 38, learned he had stage 4 thyroid cancer. The diagnosis was a shock because the lump on his neck hadn’t been very pronounced, he said. he told Fox News in a telephone interview.
Lew’s job as a comedian left him without health insurance, but he received coverage while working as a casino dealer and instructor. His health began to decline five years after his diagnosis despite the treatment plan he was following.
He lost over 150 pounds in 2019 after suffering severe loss of appetite.
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“I came down to around 140 pounds,” Lew said while noting that the extra weight he had before his cancer could have been a “blessing.”
Left to right: Kathleen, Sydney and David Lew pose for a family portrait.
(David Lew)
With the drastic change in health, Lew and his wife Kathleen stepped up their search for treatment alternatives in medullary thyroid cancer support groups on Facebook, which led them to a clinical trial led by Gavreto – a prescription drug that was developed to target advanced or metastatic RET. fusion positive thyroid cancer.
“For me, it was either trying the trial or sleeping forever,” Lew explained. “At first I said no because I had already done tests and it didn’t help and it hurt, and it wasn’t fun. But then I saw my wife and my oncologist afterwards. said I didn’t want to do My oncologist gave my wife a hug and I felt like I wasn’t in the room anymore. They were just accepting that I was already gone. thought, “Maybe I should try this.” “
Lew said his love for his daughter Sydney and a trip to Hawaii also influenced his opinion after realizing he should try to create as many happy memories as possible.
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Before Lew agreed to undergo the clinical trial, he and his family struggled to find doctors who knew how to treat this rare cancer.
Each year, about 12,000 men and 33,000 women contract thyroid cancer, and about 900 men and 1,000 women die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to Lew, he ended up having to “break up” with his first oncologist because they refused to do a partial thyroidectomy.
Comedian David Lew, 38, found out he had stage 4 medullary thyroid cancer in 2014. He told Fox News he suffered extreme weight loss five years after his diagnosis in because of his loss of appetite. Lew’s wife, Kathleen, helped him find an oncologist with experience in the treatment of this rare cancer.
(David Lew)
Lew’s wife, Kathleen, who has a background in emergency technology, radiology and is now studying nursing, remembers being “livid” when she observed the first oncologist’s contempt.
“Most people don’t even think about these things or think about asking their doctor when they say, ‘This is the treatment you should be on,'” Kathleen told Fox News.
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Kathleen went on to say that she didn’t even realize that patients were free to refuse or seek other treatments until she joined medullary thyroid cancer support groups.
Lew added that his wife has been a “great advocate” in his uphill battle with thyroid cancer.
“Have someone at my doctor’s appointments to defend me or ask me questions [has been a help]”, he said.” She was there and she knew how to ask questions and noticed it when my first oncologist was not proactive. “
David and Kathleen Lew told Fox News patients should feel empowered when seeking medical care. When they searched for an oncologist who could work with stage 4 thyroid cancer, they learned that patients have the right to ask questions and find treatment plans that match their needs.
(David Lew)
His second oncologist at NorthBay Healthcare in Vacaville, Calif., Underwent the partial thyroidectomy shortly after Lew became a patient and approved the clinical trial, which Lew began in June 2019. Gavreto received approval from the FDA one year and three months after Lew. started his trial. He continues to take two tablets in the morning.
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Lew and Kathleen agree that he might not have lived if they hadn’t explored other treatment plans. They say the support they received from family and friends also helped, including the six-and-a-half-hour commutes and the coordination it took to get Lew to his clinical trial appointments. the San Francisco Bay Area to Irvine.
“That’s 1000% why I’m still here,” Lew said.
Lew said he was happy to have gained weight and regained the color of his face since the start of his trial.
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“It’s been pretty phenomenal. I don’t know how typical that is,” he said. “I believe a lot in laughter and healing and optimism in general, and I think that also helped a lot because there were a lot of dark days. You had to be able to see through that.”
If the medicine Lew is taking starts to fail, he and his wife say they are willing to look for other options, but for now they are enjoying the “normalcy” they are experiencing.
David and Kathleen Lew say the comedian’s thyroid cancer has become manageable thanks to the immense support they have received from family, friends and a network of medullary thyroid cancer survivors.
(David Lew)
Lew is doing well enough to return to work and has taken on a new job as an online game show host. He was also able to step up his efforts to care for their daughter, so that Kathleen could continue her nursing education.
“Going from staying in bed all day to doing normal things is so awesome,” Lew said, noting that he appreciates being able to help organize bake sales at school and take his daughter to a workout. cheerleading or football matches.
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Outside of his family life, Lew said he spoke about his cancer on stage as a stand-up comedian and inspirational speaker.
“Once I started talking about medullary thyroid cancer, a lot of people found me,” he said. “It’s really nice to have people reaching out to me and asking me questions or telling me that I inspired them and helped them overcome a lot of obstacles.”
To connect with his followers and promote a better outlook on life, Lew started a hashtag campaign known as #BeThePOP, which means “Be the Purpeyor of Positivity”. The campaign’s mission is focused on enhancing happiness.
When asked if he had words of wisdom for someone who has been diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer, Lew said, “My advice would be to laugh a lot. Someone once told me that if you don’t laugh, you don’t get well. We think back to all the things we had to face and laugh, I think it’s so helpful. It helped me a lot when I was sick. “
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The American Cancer Society says thyroid cancer can be detected early through a variety of medical exams, including annual physicals, medical history scans, picture and blood tests, ultrasounds and radioactive iodine analyzes.
The CDC says symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump or swelling on the side of the neck (which is most common), difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, or a hoarse voice.
“If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately,” writes the CDC. “Don’t wait for the symptoms to get worse.”
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