At 25, David Fuehrer won the New York state natural body building title. He had trained and worked hard to earn this achievement. His body was ripped, well defined – a feat accomplished without any drugs, including steroids. With that title, the graduate student from Rochester, New York felt bulletproof. But just four months later, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Recalls David, “Aside from surgery and a six-week recovery, it really didn’t affect my life too much.”
Denial
Looking back, “Despite my diagnosis, I felt invincible. I was in denial and didn’t deal much with it.”
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That all changed five years later when his doctors found he had another form of testicular cancer.
In 2007, David was diagnosed with stage 1 seminoma. Now living in Michigan, he sought the medical expertise of Beaumont urologist James Relle, M.D.
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“I performed an orchiectomy,” says Dr. Relle. “This was followed by radiation treatments and hormone replacement therapy.”
Daniel Krauss, M.D., radiation oncologist, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, remembers David having 14 radiation treatments over a three-week period.
Hiding cancer
After his second diagnosis David admits, “I pretended I was stronger than cancer.” He was also becoming aware of a changing personality. He was becoming more introverted. “I hid my cancer,” David explains.
Then David lost his father to bladder cancer. Through his grief, he realized he wanted to be more like him – more honest and open. “I realized how important it is to trust the people that you love. And most importantly, share.”
Another realization came to David, “I’m never going to be the same guy I was before cancer.” His goal, to be better after cancer.
Cancer: takes and gives
“It’s true cancer has taken many things from me, like my ability to father children, but it’s what it has given me that is truly remarkable,” explains David. “Every day feels special.”
He credits some of that philosophy and optimism to the care he received from his Beaumont medical team.
“They treated me as a person, not a disease,” says David. “Drs. Relle and Krauss were supportive and caring. The whole team has just been fantastic.”
Helping patients find research studies
The Troy resident left corporate consulting in October 2012. He had managed innovation and product programs for such industry giants as Pfizer, General Electric and Dow Solar. But he set his sights on co-founding an organization to help patients and their families find nationwide clinical research trials. This past January at 36, he helped roll out CureLauncher.
“It’s like match.com for clinical research trials,” says David, president of CureLauncher and a two-time cancer survivor.
He understands the importance of clinical research.
“I want to help people dealing with disease. Our organization can help empower them to find treatment options,” explains David. “We put the patient and their family first.”
When not working, David enjoys playing shortstop for the Ponies, an area softball team.
He reflects, “It’s more than survival, I’m thriving after cancer.”
