A former Ironman triathlete was stunned to learn his vision problems were the first sign of stage 4 lung cancer. Dave Nitsche, 57, was given just 12 to 24 months to live, but an experimental drug has helped him surpass that timeframe by several years.
In 2019, Nitsche noticed trouble seeing with his left eye. After scans revealed fluid buildup and rising pressure, doctors determined he had lost vision in the eye and removed it. A biopsy of the fluid confirmed it was cancerous. Further testing revealed stage 4 lung cancer.
Nitsche's doctors were shocked, especially because he had never smoked. Azam J. Farooqui, MD, a hematology-oncology physician at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, said it's very rare for cancer to reach the eye.
After initial targeted therapy with afatinib failed, Nitsche began taking osimertinib (Tagrisso), which crosses the blood-brain barrier. When that stopped working after six years, he started amivantamab (Rybrevant), a chemo drug given via IV every three weeks. After a year on Rybrevant, his scans are looking very good.
Nitsche says science is catching up to him perfectly with these drugs. He has experienced few side effects, primarily skin irritation and fingernail infections. Rybrevant is now approved for certain non-small cell lung cancers in the U.S. and Canada.
Now preparing for a 600-mile biking expedition in June to raise awareness, Nitsche credits his endurance training for helping extend his survival. He says, 'A diagnosis is not a death sentence.'