Jack’s Story: Clinical Trial Brings Comprehensive Care

At 67, Jack Brandon found himself facing a life-changing decision. After noticing blood in his urine, he went in for a CT scan. By the end of the day, he learned he had a tumor in his left kidney.  

“In just one afternoon, to learn I had cancer-I felt sick with fear,” Jack recalls. “I was alone in the house when I found out, and I had no idea what to do.”  

Jack sought out guidance from a family member who pointed him to Dr. James McKiernan at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 

Further testing revealed a 10-centimeter mass consistent with stage IV kidney cancer, along with several pulmonary nodules. Dr. McKiernan and his team delivered more unexpected news: Jack’s kidney would need to be removed. A new clinical trial, however, could offer a chance at a cure.  

Putting faith in research  

Jack was hesitant at first. "When I heard ‘clinical trial,’ I was suspicious,” he admits. “It sounded like maybe I was out of options. I didn’t understand yet that this wasn’t some  radically experimental treatment.”  

Jack sought opinions from other leading cancer centers in the area. Everywhere he went, he heard the same thing. “Other doctors gave me just a few years, and even said they wished they could offer the kind of trial Columbia was running. It became clearer this was something I should consider.”   

Returning to Columbia, Dr. Mark Stein, principal investigator of the trial, walked him through the plan step by step. Treatment would begin months before the surgery, using a combination of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, and continue afterward for a total of more than two years.  

“I explained that the trial allowed us to treat the cancer systemically,” says Dr. Stein. “We combined leading therapies with surgery to remove the kidney tumor, which is an approach that can be especially beneficial for kidney cancer patients who respond well to treatment.”   

By starting treatment early, while the cancer was still in place, the therapy could help Jack’s immune system recognize and respond to it, then continue targeting any remaining cancer cells after surgery.   

“We were also able to study the biology behind his responses and better understand how the drugs work together. Every trial is really serving two purposes at once: helping the person in front of us while building knowledge that could lead to better outcomes for the next generation of patients,” says Dr. Stein.  

Where care and compassion meet  

I didn’t feel alone at any point.It really felt like luxury care-so many people focused on me.

Deciding to join the trial marked a turning point - not just in his treatment, but in understanding what comprehensive care could look like.  

“I did not expect the level of attention I got. That’s what’s so great about these trials- it’s constant monitoring and attention,” Jack says. “I appreciated that more and more as time went on.”  

He developed close relationships with nurses and staff who came to know him well, offering reassurance and consistency even on his hardest days.  

“I didn’t feel alone at any point,” Jack says. “It really felt like luxury care-so many people focused on me, paying attention to every detail. Even on days when I wasn’t in the best mood, when I felt more demanding- they were always careful and patient.”  

A welcome return to everyday life  

In February 2023, three months into the combination treatment, Jack underwent surgery to remove his kidney, performed by Dr. McKiernan. His adrenal gland was also removed as a precaution.  

The outcome brought more relief: there was no evidence the cancer had spread, and he would finish the remaining course of immunotherapy as planned.  

Today, Jack has been off therapy for more than a year, with no evidence of recurrence. He continues to be closely monitored with imaging and a circulating tumor DNA blood test every three months to detect any DNA fragments from cancer cells, as an added layer of surveillance.  

Clinical trials like the one Jack participated in are helping change how cancer is treated by bringing the latest scientific advances to patients in a caring, structured, closely monitored environment.  

For patients, they offer not only access to promising new therapies, but also a level of attention and comprehensive support that can make all the difference throughout the cancer journey.  

“That group of people saved my life,” Jack says. “I was fortunate to know where to go, to get in quickly, and to live close enough to receive this kind of care. I know that’s not the reality for everyone.”