Meet Dan
“Cancer revealed itself to me and my family almost all at once.”
In 2014, Dan Tukey received a call from his father: “With a broken and choked voice, he informed me that my older brother had been rushed to the hospital.” Dan’s 30-year-old brother had been diagnosed with cancer; tragically, his brother passed just two weeks after the diagnosis. A few months later, his mother was diagnosed with a rare genetic cancer from which she, fortunately, has recovered. Dan’s mom encouraged him to get genetic testing done as she believed there may have been a genetic cause for the family’s diagnosis. Dan’s test results came back positive for Lynch Syndrome, a condition that increases the risks of many kinds of cancer. This meant that he would now undergo cancer screenings every year.
Eight years later following a regular preventative screening, Dan was diagnosed with rectal cancer. “When you experience a trauma of that scale,” he says, “it can alter your outlook and make you fear the worst. So, when I was initially diagnosed, there was a feeling of deep uncertainty. There is a discovery period that often involves MRIs, biopsies, and other tests to determine if the cancer has metastasized. Waiting for these results can be agonizing.”
Stand Up To Cancer’s success is measured in the months, years, and lifetimes given back to people with cancer and their families.
Fortunately for Dan, not long after his diagnosis he was alerted to a new clinical trial that he qualified for, led by Stand Up To Cancer’s Colorectal Cancer Dream Team. “All 14 people enrolled in the clinical trial saw their cancer disappear after just six months of immunotherapy, without the need for surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy,” he explains. “Much to my surprise this clinical trial was designed to treat the rare and specific gene mutation that led to my cancer.”
Dan participated in the trial, and after only the second immunotherapy infusion, there were no signs of his tumor remaining. “I feared that I would need to undergo surgery or treatments that would impact my quality of life,” he says, “it was only after joining the trial that I had peace of mind that I could be treated while maintaining my lifestyle. To me that moment signified the remarkable progress that has been made, thanks in large part to funding and research.”
Today, Dan is enjoying his active life and is grateful for advances in cancer treatment. “Looking back, I take immense pride in knowing that my involvement has provided valuable data that will ultimately be used to benefit future patients. That’s why organizations like Stand Up To Cancer are so important. They raise funding to accelerate cancer research, so that new and innovative therapies—like the one I received—can save lives.”
Our Mission
Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients.
