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Douglas Flora: Why we must advocate for funding cancer research: Michelle’s 10 year miracle

Photo taken from Douglas Flora/LinkedIn

Aug 16, 2024, 05:34

Douglas Flora: Why we must advocate for funding cancer research: Michelle’s 10 year miracle

Douglas Flora shared on LinkedIn:

“Ten years ago, I met this incredible young woman named Michelle. She held a newborn on her lap, and had just been diagnosed with a metastatic lung cancer with a massive pleural effusion and brain metastases. Fortunately, Michelle also had an Exon 19 EGFR mutation, and she’s been thriving on a well-tolerated targeted therapy ever since. This week, she’s happy, healthy, and in sustained radiographic complete remission.

THIS is why we must continue to tirelessly advocate for funding for cancer research. This is why I care so deeply about finding tools that accelerate discovery and promote personalized medicine. This is why I attend so many fundraisers and you guys have to see all these ‘for a great cause’ posts on my feed. We all should be inspired by this work, and the opportunity to write a new script for patients that so desperately need one. This family and I extend our deepest gratitude to all of you working to identify new targets, develop innovative therapies, and push the boundaries of oncology to new heights.

To my colleagues and friends in this network who champion cancer research, development, and discovery—miracles like Michelle’s 10-year anniversary are our why. Keep pushing forward! Patients like Michelle are counting on you.

Happy 10 years together Michelle!

*shared with the patient’s enthusiastic and written permission.”

Source: Douglas Flora/LinkedIn

Douglas Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, overseeing clinical operations, strategic planning, and the expansion of cancer programs. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Precision Medicine; Genomic Health.

As the Editor-in-Chief of ‘AI in Precision Oncology,’ the first peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to this field, he plays a pivotal role in advancing research. He is also an active board member of the American Cancer Society and ACCC, where he contributes to advocacy, education, and innovation within the cancer community.