Former triathlete says vision loss led to stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis
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A former Ironman triathlete was surprised to be taught that his vision issues have been really the primary signal of stage 4 lung cancer.
Dave Nitsche, 57, was initially given simply 12 to 24 months to stay – however a newly accepted drug has helped him surpass that timeframe by a number of years.
“In 2019, I noticed that I was having trouble seeing with my left eye,” the Canadian man shared throughout an interview with Fox News Digital. “I went to the optometrist, and they said it was probably a detached retina.”
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After scans revealed fluid buildup and rising strain, medical doctors decided that Nitsche had lost vision within the eye — and finally eliminated it. A biopsy of the fluid revealed that it was cancerous.
Next, Nitsche noticed extra specialists, who extracted fluid from his lungs for extra testing. “The next day, the oncologist told me that I had stage 4 lung cancer,” he stated.
Dave Nitsche, pictured in Calgary, Alberta in 2025, was surprised to be taught that his vision issues have been really the primary signal of stage 4 lung cancer. (Dave Nitsche)
Nitsche stated his medical doctors have been “very shocked” to discover that his preliminary eye points had stemmed from lung cancer – significantly as a result of he had never been a smoker.
Azam J. Farooqui, MD, a hematology and oncology doctor at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers in Chandler, Arizona, agreed that Nitsche’s case was “very surprising.”
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“Cancer can find its way to some very odd locations, but the eye is a very, very rare one,” Farooqui, who didn’t deal with Nitsche, advised Fox News Digital. “Usually cancer will get there via a nerve channel or blood vessel, but it’s very uncommon.”
Nitsche, even ex-triathlete who has accomplished a number of Ironman races, had not skilled some other signs apart from the attention points. “I was running quite a bit at the time,” I shared. “I had a little bit of back pain here and there, but lung cancer definitely wasn’t on my radar.”
Nitsche, a former triathlete who has accomplished a number of Ironman races, hadn’t skilled some other signs apart from the attention points. “I had a little bit of back pain here and there, but lung cancer definitely wasn’t on my radar.” (Dave Nitsche)
His first remedy was a focused remedy referred to as afatinib, which lasted about three months. When medical doctors discovered that the cancer had unfold to Nitsche’s mind, he started taking one other medicine referred to as Tagrisso (osimertinib), which crosses the blood-brain barrier.
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After six years, when these medicine stopped working, Nitsche began taking Rybrevant (amivantamab), a chemo-free drug that he receives through IV infusion each three weeks in a supervised medical setting. After a 12 months on the drug, which is developed by Johnson & Johnson, his scans are trying “very, very good,” he stated.
“There are days that you feel strong and there are days that you’re a little weaker, but you just adjust accordingly.”
“Science is catching up to me perfectly with all these drugs that I’m on,” Nitsche stated. “Now, we’ll just wait for the next thing to come along, and we’ll jump onto that. But for now, the Rybrevant is working perfectly.”
Nitsche has skilled a number of unintended effects, however stated for essentially the most half, the drug he takes is “very tolerable.” (Dave Nitsche)
Nitsche has skilled a number of unintended effects, primarily skin irritation and fingernail infections, however stated for essentially the most half, the drug is “very tolerable.”
Compared to the full-dose chemo and others lung cancer treatmentsFarooqui agreed that Rybrevant is “very manageable.”
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Other frequent unintended effects can embrace infusion reactions, muscle and joint ache, mouth sores, swelling, fatigue, nausea, bowel adjustments, vomiting, cough, shortness of breath and low urge for food, in accordance to FDA prescribing info.
In uncommon instances, critical results can embrace lung irritation, blood clots, extreme pores and skin reactions and eye issues. Pregnant ladies mustn’t take the drug due to fetal dangers.
Embracing his position as an advocate, Nitsche now speaks brazenly about his expertise and what others ought to know. (Dave Nitsche)
“If somebody is having too many unintended effects, or whether it is feeling too aggressive, we are able to do dose reductions“,” Farooqui noted. “In my expertise, we have had sufferers do rather well on it, and we have been in a position to handle their unintended effects with none main issues.”
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Rybrevant has now been approved to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer in the US and Canada, and Nitsche told a few of his friends are also taking the drug.
“Doctors gave me a 12 months to two years – they advised me to get my affairs so as. And it has been seven years now,” he said. “I’ll take it.”
“For virtually any sort of cancer, a diagnosis is just not a demise sentence.”
Nitsche is now preparing for a 600-mile biking expedition in June to raise awareness for lung cancer. I have credits his endurance training and high fitness level with helping to extend his survival.
“There are days that you just really feel sturdy and there are days that you are a little weaker, however you simply regulate accordingly,” he stated.
Rybrevant has now been approved to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer in the US and Canada. (iStock)
Embracing his role as an advocate, Nitsche now speaks openly about his experience and what others should know.
“If you might have lungs, you will get lung cancer – however at this level, for nearly any sort of cancer, a diagnosis is just not a demise sentence,” he said. “They’re doing so much research on it, particularly with lung cancer… I’ve identified individuals who have spent 12 to 18 years, so for me, seven years is nice. So I’ll simply hold going.”
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Farooqui echoed the significance of sufferers “advocating for themselves and getting essentially the most up-to-date remedy there’s.”