Swim Across America
Publisher: Weill Cornell Medicine / New York Presbyterian
27 years ago, Bruce Dunbar joined the Swim Across America community (@saaswim), a nonprofit devoted to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment. He swam in the organization’s first fundraiser event after losing his father to colon cancer. 25 years later this same community created ”Team Bruce” to support him.
Almost two years ago, the competitive swimmer found himself wheezing and suffering from shortness of breath, leaving him unable to complete an 8-mile swim. As someone who never smoked and felt like he was in good health, he thought he may have come down with a case of pneumonia, instead he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer with metastases on his bones, spine and brain.
Bruce was referred to Dr. Brendon Stiles – a thoracic surgeon at WCM & @nyphospital who collaborated with oncologist Dr. Ashish Saxena to create a comprehensive treatment plan. Genetic testing of his tumor, revealed that Bruce’s cancer was driven by a mutation – an ALK rearrangement; a specific type of non-small cell lung cancer.
Luckily, there was a new targeted drug available treat this type of cancer that was FDA approved just one week before Bruce's visit. The medication was shown to decrease cancer progression and more importantly for Bruce, to work better in the brain with less side effects.
Thanks to the treatment received at WCM & @nyphospital, most of his cancer has disappeared radiographically, and he is now able to continue swimming. Today, less than two years after his initial diagnosis, Bruce completed his 8th Long Island Sound Open Water Swim, leading Team Bruce to the highest fundraising total, garnering more than $245,000.
Bruce says he owes his current health not to luck, but to research. “It totally changed the perspective of what I thought my life was going to be,” says Bruce. “I feel like I’m normal and have my life back.” He hopes to inspire future doctors and scientists to continue research by joining Dr. Stiles to speak to WCM students about his treatment. With lung cancer screening limitations, Bruce tells students “always take that extra second to ask what it could be.”
Almost two years ago, the competitive swimmer found himself wheezing and suffering from shortness of breath, leaving him unable to complete an 8-mile swim. As someone who never smoked and felt like he was in good health, he thought he may have come down with a case of pneumonia, instead he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer with metastases on his bones, spine and brain.
Bruce was referred to Dr. Brendon Stiles – a thoracic surgeon at WCM & @nyphospital who collaborated with oncologist Dr. Ashish Saxena to create a comprehensive treatment plan. Genetic testing of his tumor, revealed that Bruce’s cancer was driven by a mutation – an ALK rearrangement; a specific type of non-small cell lung cancer.
Luckily, there was a new targeted drug available treat this type of cancer that was FDA approved just one week before Bruce's visit. The medication was shown to decrease cancer progression and more importantly for Bruce, to work better in the brain with less side effects.
Thanks to the treatment received at WCM & @nyphospital, most of his cancer has disappeared radiographically, and he is now able to continue swimming. Today, less than two years after his initial diagnosis, Bruce completed his 8th Long Island Sound Open Water Swim, leading Team Bruce to the highest fundraising total, garnering more than $245,000.
Bruce says he owes his current health not to luck, but to research. “It totally changed the perspective of what I thought my life was going to be,” says Bruce. “I feel like I’m normal and have my life back.” He hopes to inspire future doctors and scientists to continue research by joining Dr. Stiles to speak to WCM students about his treatment. With lung cancer screening limitations, Bruce tells students “always take that extra second to ask what it could be.”
