After serving in the U.S. Navy for decades, Commander John Ryan retired, believing his toughest challenges were behind him. But in 2013, more than 20 years later, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. His fight against the disease would prove just as demanding as his years aboard nuclear submarines, testing both modern medicine and his faith.
Ryan’s journey began with a frightening symptom—coughing up blood. A trip to the emergency room confirmed the worst: adenocarcinoma, a form of non-small cell lung cancer. Despite undergoing chemotherapy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, his condition did not improve. The cancer remained, and the treatment left him suffering from fatigue, pain, weight loss, and pleural effusion.
With options dwindling, Ryan sought a second opinion at Johns Hopkins, where he met Dr. Julie Brahmer. She enrolled him in a clinical trial for a groundbreaking immunotherapy drug, nivolumab (Opdivo). Unlike traditional treatments, immunotherapy harnesses the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
The results were nothing short of remarkable. After just four infusions over nine weeks, Ryan’s tumor had shrunk by 65%. Over time, the reduction reached 84%, allowing him to resume a normal life. In addition to immunotherapy, Ryan also underwent stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a highly targeted form of radiation that helped stop the tumor’s growth with minimal side effects.
However, the fight wasn’t over. In 2022, after nearly a decade of treatment, Ryan developed chronic pneumonitis—a condition that affects lung function and can arise from long-term immunotherapy. It was a challenge unlike any he had faced before. The uncertainty of his future, combined with declining lung capacity, made this chapter of his journey especially difficult.
But just as he had done throughout his military career, Ryan pressed forward. He credited his faith for sustaining him through the darkest moments. “You’ve got to draw your hope and courage from somewhere.
Faith was high,” he said. He also found strength in the words of a blunt but wise Walter Reed nurse who had advised him early in his treatment: “Working yourself up into a frenzy has absolutely no value. Get a good night’s sleep, shake it off, and the next day you’ll have some blessings you can at least get started with.”
Ryan remained on immunotherapy for an astonishing 100 months, enduring over 225 infusions and making hundreds of 160-mile round trips to Johns Hopkins. The effort paid off—today, he is cancer-free.
His case is more than a personal victory; it is a beacon of hope for other veterans and cancer patients. As Dr. Brahmer pointed out, veterans are at a 25% higher risk of developing lung cancer due to exposure to toxic substances during military service. Yet, Ryan’s survival demonstrates the potential of modern medical advancements.
Immunotherapy, which Dr. Brahmer calls the “new foundation” for lung cancer treatment, has given patients like Ryan an alternative to traditional chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. And with continued research, the future of cancer treatment looks even more promising.
For Ryan, the lesson is clear: medicine and faith are not mutually exclusive. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance, scientific innovation, and unshakable belief.