How Immunotherapy Transformed a Veteran’s Fight Against Lung Cancer
Guest Contributor
When Navy veteran John Ryan began coughing up blood in April 2013, he likely never imagined that moment would mark the beginning of a life-altering journey. Diagnosed soon after with stage 4 non-small-cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, he was given just 12 to 18 months to live—even with immediate chemotherapy. For Ryan, a father of eight and a 30-year military serviceman, the prognosis was devastating. Yet, through the power of immunotherapy and groundbreaking research at Johns Hopkins Medicine, his story took an extraordinary turn.
Ryan’s initial experience with chemotherapy was marked by severe side effects, including fatigue, weight loss, and pain. These symptoms pushed him to seek a second opinion, which led him to Johns Hopkins oncologist Dr. Julie Brahmer. At the time, Brahmer was leading a phase 3 clinical trial for nivolumab, a type of immunotherapy known as an anti-PD1 drug. This trial was built on years of federally funded research into cancer immunology and the body’s immune response, much of it supported by the National Cancer Institute.
After joining the trial, Ryan was randomized into the cohort receiving immunotherapy. The results were dramatic. Within just four infusions, his tumor had shrunk by 65%. Over the next decade, he remained on the treatment, ultimately receiving nearly 150 infusions. His case became a beacon of hope for others facing similar diagnoses, and the trial’s success played a key role in the approval of PD-1 drugs for other types of cancer.
Immunotherapy for lung cancer has become a vital part of modern oncology, and Ryan’s experience highlights both its potential and its complexities. According to Brahmer, now a professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, understanding why certain patients respond so well to these therapies remains a critical area of research. “Mr. Ryan's journey is inspiring to a lot of patients,” Brahmer said. “We need to figure out why he did so well with immunotherapy for so long.”
However, the road wasn’t without setbacks. In 2022, nearly a decade after his cancer diagnosis, Ryan developed pneumonitis, a serious lung condition caused by his own immune system attacking healthy lung tissue—a rare but known complication of immunotherapy. His lung function dropped to just 28%, and he was forced to stop the treatment that had kept his cancer stable for so long.
At this critical juncture, Ryan was referred to Dr. Karthik Suresh, a pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine with a focus on pulmonary complications from cancer therapies. Suresh had recently launched a clinic dedicated to these very issues and brought Ryan on as one of his first patients. His approach combined steroids and other medications to reduce inflammation and restore lung function. The treatment worked: by 2025, Ryan was officially cured of pneumonitis, and his cancer remained stable despite the cessation of immunotherapy.
Ryan’s story is a testament to the importance of ongoing research and the infrastructure that supports it. Both Brahmer and Suresh emphasized that their ability to treat complex cases like Ryan’s hinges on sustained federal funding. “Our patients, like Mr. Ryan, are waiting for these types of treatments, for cures,” said Suresh. “Without investments into research, these won’t be coming.”
What I found particularly striking was how Ryan’s case illustrates the interconnectedness of clinical care, research, and patient advocacy. His participation in a clinical trial not only benefited him personally but also helped pave the way for broader use of immunotherapy in oncology. His later complications, while serious, were met with a swift and informed response thanks to a healthcare system equipped with the knowledge and resources to act.
Ryan himself attributes his survival to both the medical teams who treated him and his own mindset. “Having trust and faith in what's happening is crucial when you're on the other end of the spear,” he said. His gratitude extends to the researchers, physicians, and support staff who walked with him through every stage of his battle.
Today, with his lung function restored and his cancer under control, Ryan’s journey stands as a powerful example of what is possible when science, compassion, and perseverance come together. His experience underscores a broader truth: lifesaving breakthroughs depend not only on innovation but also on the sustained support that makes such innovation possible.
