When Jud Kimmel was diagnosed with advanced neuroendocrine cancer (NET), his treatment journey took an important direction early on: he was offered the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic, providing him access to Theranostics as a first-line treatment option.
Jud is a public finance consultant living in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. He is married and has three children. In this interview with Karim Bouterfa from the ICPO Foundation, Jud shares how he approached the decision to participate in a clinical trial and what it meant to receive Theranostics early in his treatment journey. He speaks openly about his expectations and concerns and about an experience he had not anticipated: his treatment was very successful, but apart from fatigue, he experienced virtually no side effects from Theranostics. Paradoxically, this became a source of anxiety for him – if the treatment felt so manageable, could it really be working? His experience provides a compelling patient perspective on how treatment can affect not only physical but also emotional well-being.
Jud also addresses the uncertainty that accompanies living with cancer, including the challenging periods of waiting for scans and results and the possibility of needing further treatment. He highlights the importance of clear and accessible information, open communication with healthcare teams, and support from family and caregivers throughout the patient journey.
Today, Jud is an active patient advocate, working with cancer organizations worldwide to improve the information and resources available to cancer patients. Drawing on his own experience, he wants to help patients better understand their disease, learn about clinical trials and innovative treatment approaches, and feel empowered to discuss their options with their healthcare teams. His commitment reflects his belief that international collaboration such as ICPO Foundation fosters is essential to improve awareness, education, and outcomes for NET patients worldwide.
