For people diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer, Edward “Buddy” Cutler’s story may serve as a beacon of hope, a clinical trial success story, and a reminder that statistics don’t dictate a person’s unique experience.  

When Buddy was diagnosed with stage 4 (IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 12 years ago, he was determined to do whatever he needed to do to fight the disease. Chemotherapy stopped working just 18 months into his diagnosis, so he turned to clinical trials to treat his disease.  

The first clinical trial that Buddy joined gave him side effects so severe that he had to go to the hospital. He then joined another phase 1 trial in December of 2015 and is still on that drug today! 

The trial ended in 2021, and of the 80 people enrolled in it, only Buddy and one other person showed success on the treatment that he now calls his “personal miracle drug.” It has kept him with no evidence of disease (NED) to this day.  

Hear more about Buddy’s experiences and hopes for the future.