Big Show: Jay Thompson and Dr. George Demetri

Jake Thompson. Is the patient doctor George Dmitry is the position we'll start with you Jay first of all it's great to meet Abbott's no border it says here. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- So it's not that they of those slow forty cycle now I haven't they can do not -- -- when we first diagnosed tomorrow we diagnosed with. I was diagnosed back in May of 09. With gastrointestinal. -- I would do feel like tell us what you were feeling and why you picked up the phone call the doctor. Actually had an -- In my stomach on the primary location. Had quite a bit of pain for a few days I don't -- -- They see if I could've been -- for a few days and and then finally got to the point where I was having difficulty eating so right. Called my primary care physician and he got -- in and bring a much tests and one thing led to another and that day we were. Ninety isn't sure what those are dealing with and you were dealing with. The gastrointestinal. Struggled tumors gist for short emotionally how did you feel like they what did you know about it what did you learn shortly after that. I didn't know anything about it never heard of it. That day I didn't feel alive I think it was still kind of it did definitely took a few days to sink in. Those remarkably relaxed that first day. We -- I just because they've. Was. Surrounded with such good people that I knew those him in good hands and headed in the right direction. But I started reading up about it of course when you go online and you start reading about it all sounds very scary it's not until you. Get to a place like Dana Farber and you work was. Doctor Dmitry. Doctor Suzanne George will work with -- bases that you start to learn more more about it what's been going on for the past. 101520 years in in research and development. To find ways for of the cure for these things. Prior -- good transition because her doctor wanna ask you how has our research. Changed in ten or fifteen years and well what he's dealing with what he had dealt with the 2009. What would have been the story in 1999. -- in 1989 we had nothing to treat this disease this was the kind of cancer and against cancer a bad name. Because no matter what we would do he wouldn't work and then in a year 2000 type team and some mothers we collaborated with across the world. Figured out the short circuit in this -- came up with a series of drugs and has now been FDA approved. And are helping people people like. In the year 2000 might have only had six weeks to live I -- one of them today twelve years later still taking. The medicine that we developed back in year 2000. And it's all because of the kind of research and Dana Farber does to take that science can turn into effective new treatments and the only way we can do that because of generosity of people like -- was willing to drive up from Connecticut to be here today. To show his support for Dana Farber. And for the people in New England to really support Dana Farber and really. Help us to do we wanna do I should mention that. -- -- we're talking about some of the cutting edge technology that doctor Demetrius also the senior vice president for experimental. Therapeutics. And what are you guys are doing right now this is cutting edge that we can look at down the road in the next year or two. We're we're doing so many things they can't even describe it these are appeals -- taking -- -- That can really show nothing short circuits were developing skills like that. For breast cancer we're developing ways of turning on the immune system. To fight cancer with the body's natural defense is -- -- we couldn't even imagine a possible five or ten years ago. I know in clinical trials and Dana Farber. On the way to get FDA approved and it's all because the research research comes in many times not just people looking in my small laboratory. The kind of research I do with patience -- is actually on a clinical research trial. And it's allowed us to get him a drug. Before it's FDA approved in fact part of the trial he did his part of that data that suggests that this drug does work -- the FDA will review it. Can say hopefully make sure that works well enough to -- indeed seal of approval and let people have had it for commercial standard US. In in this journey -- that you've gone through me wouldn't. But what was it like funeral for you guys to learn it. Oh my god and I have this I have just which I've never heard of him and now this opens up a whole new chapter for ourselves and I think guys. Well tough. Tough question to answer hard to put into words. I had no problem telling people that it -- gifted tables were turned or if I had a choice of which one of us got sick I would get I would -- -- cancer every time I don't quite understand how she manages to deal with this is Willis she does. She's incredibly supportive. And in keeps me on track. Daily weekly you know this this whole journey has has been one that we've been through very much together. And one and certainly wouldn't be. Dealing with nearly as well without her help. But I don't know how she does it quite frankly. And she still works pretty well tuned yes so most of my time trying to keep over there. -- how you -- these -- a pretty good. I very little to complain about and you take these pills are there any after effects the pills do you have any that's fluid there -- -- Forty -- what happens. Hey you know it it varies. How it. It's fairly consistent but I think sometimes you know as big chemistry in my body varies from one month to the next my side effects -- very little bit. The most commonly I have like hand and then -- reactions tonight. And hands and -- -- kind of -- Lauren and I feel like they've been sunburned from things like that. Some which -- won't discuss on the here and thank you. -- US. Expressing legitimate program right right into the. Because I think that down. I write any more reason I don't I don't have a lot to complain you know so. That being said well listen we're really happy you went to the right plus there's no question about that I only found now. And no hopefully you're on a great road to recovery here we thank you for coming in here and coming up from Connecticut sharing your stories. The doctor is always great seeing you and I continued success of the great work did you guys do over there especially that research that you're doing. Because it's all of the new discoveries that are going to -- as you said turn on and off various systems within our body. They don't change showed the lives of our guys like.