The headline reads: "IU Refines Cancer Therapy." Researchers at the IU Medical Center improved cancer treatment by helping reduce pain and weakness. The improvements built upon IU Oncology Professor and Researcher Dr. Lawrence Einhorn revolutionary treatment from September of 1974.
That month, 23-year-old John Cleland sat in Dr. Einhorn's office and received grim news about his testicular cancer. He thought he was in remission, but the cancer returned and spread to his lungs.
"Dr. Einhorn called me into his office and told me at that time he didn't think there was much more that he could do," Cleland says. "However, waiting a couple minutes, he did offer me a chance at a brand new chemotherapy, and I did end up trying that and that's what was successful."
Cleland was the first successful patient to try the experimental new treatment. Since then, Dr. Einhorn has gone on to treat countless people, including famous cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Since completing the treatment, Cleland says he's embraced life. He carried the Olympic Torch when it passed through Indiana in 2002. He also became a biology teacher at Zionsville High School, retired in three years ago and now spends much of his time on his hobby of collecting milk bottles from around Indiana.
"I appreciate each and every day and it's been 40 years, and 40 years has gone very fast, and I just get up and enjoy each and every day," Cleland says.
Dr. Einhorn was honored for his testicular cancer cure this past October by the IU Simon Cancer Center. The celebration was held on the 40th anniversary of Cleland's official cure date.
Fund raising efforts brought in $1 million in honor of Dr. Einhorn, $700,000 of which will be used to launch a new cancer survivor research program. The other $300,000 will be used to establish the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the IU School of Medicine.