NY Doctor Beats Stage 4 Stomach Cancer With Trial Treatment

When Derek Cooney couldn't eat or drink one day in 2024, the emergency room doctor knew something was seriously wrong.

Tests revealed diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma, an aggressive stomach cancer that had already spread throughout his body. At 48 years old, with four kids and a wife who's also an ER physician, Derek faced stage 4 cancer with the same determination he brings to saving lives.

"After I got over the initial shock, then anger, I immediately thought, 'Thank God it's not my wife or kids,'" Derek says. His local oncologist in upstate New York started him on aggressive chemotherapy and encouraged him to seek second opinions.

Derek and his wife Norma visited multiple cancer centers searching for clinical trials. Most told them the same thing: he was already on the best available treatment. Online statistics painted a grim picture, but Derek refused to give up hope.

Then UT MD Anderson called with life-changing news. Surgical oncologist Dr. Brian Badgwell had found a clinical trial Derek qualified for. The call came while Derek was recovering from pneumonia in the ICU after finishing his fourth round of chemotherapy.

The trial offered a personalized approach that went beyond standard treatment protocols. Derek didn't hesitate. He and Norma made the trip to Houston, where a team of specialists designed a treatment plan specifically for his cancer.

The medical team at UT MD Anderson included gastrointestinal oncologist Dr. Jaffer Ajani and endocrinologist Dr. Carlos Jimenez. Their collaborative approach gave Derek access to cutting-edge therapies not available anywhere else.

Why This Inspires

Derek's journey shows how clinical trials are transforming cancer from a death sentence into a treatable condition. His willingness to seek multiple opinions and travel for specialized care made all the difference.

As both a doctor and a patient, Derek understood the statistics but chose to focus on possibility instead of probability. He'd seen countless patients overcome the odds in his own emergency room.

Today, Derek is cancer-free and back at work saving lives. His story offers hope to other stomach cancer patients facing similar diagnoses.

The clinical trial that saved Derek's life represents years of research and innovation at UT MD Anderson. Every patient who participates helps scientists develop better treatments for future cases.

Derek credits his medical team's personalized approach and his family's unwavering support for his recovery. His four children never stopped believing their dad would beat the odds.

For families facing devastating diagnoses, Derek's message is simple: never stop looking for options, and never lose hope.