Andy's Story
Written by Andy Martin, Tulane Medical School, 2003
Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC) is one of the truly rare cancers of which we know, with fewer than 100 cases reported in the scientific literature. It is also one of the most malignant cancers, with few surviving past five years.
Unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with SNUC. Part of the deeply personal struggle to deal with this is frustration at the lack of definitive opinion as to the best treatment. Among consulting institutions are some you may know: MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber/MGH/Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Tulane and the University of Chicago. Yet among them, there was no consensus, because collectively we know too little to offer a reliable solution.
I am at a unique point in both my personal struggle with the disease, and in my education as a medical student. This point allows me to sidestep the clinical duties of a typical third year student and, under the mentorship of Dr. Tyler Curiel, learn how to do the the type of research that will further our understanding of SNUC. This work involves not only learning how these cells look and behave, but assessing them as targets for some new, novel cancer treatments.
I have the good fortune to walk a very unique path. The rest of those afflicted with SNUC (and so many other rare diseases) walk their course alongside doctors who have too little information to make effective decisions. They also lack the opportunity to undertake a project that might have lasting benefit for all of the others who suffer as they do. If successful, I have just such an extraordinary opportunity, and it is one I would like you to be aware of and, if at all possible, to support.