[Music]
>> (Description): The MUSC Hollings Cancer Center logo appears.
>> (Rachel Dellinger) : Hi, my name is Rachel Dellinger.
>> (Matthew Delinger) : And I'm Matthew Dellinger.
>> (Description): A couple is seated on patio chairs on the lawn. Behind them, oaks bend over a Lowcountry creek.
>> (Rachel) : And he has Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with metastases to the brain, liver and lymph nodes.
>> (Description): Words appear: In 2024, Matt began taking the drug CLN 081, also known as Zipalertinib, as part of a clinical trial.
>> (Matthew) : I started a clinical trial last year, last October. And the reason I started it, the cancer went to my liver and to my brain. And the chemotherapy just didn't penetrate those barriers of your brain and liver.
>> (Rachel): So they told us about this trial, that this drug is made up of smaller molecules that penetrate the brain and liver barriers. So, we didn't really have any other options. This was it.
>> (Matthew): Being on this clinical trial now is probably, I mean, it's a life changer. You don't have none of the side effects of chemotherapy. You know?
>> (Description): Matt captaining a pontoon boat on a sunny day, with marsh extending toward the horizon.
>> (Rachel:) It's not as harsh on his body, and his mind. This clinical trial was not what we thought it was going to be like in the beginning, which had us so afraid, because we really didn't know anything about it. But, Doctor Alexander and Jessica sat us down and literally explained it to us, described it to us. You could get a visual of what they were, how they were describing it to us,
>> (Matthew): There was so much communication, when we went into the rooms to talk to the doctors, it wasn’t like we were rushed in and rushed out.
>> (Rachel): This is probably been the best experience out of this experience,
>> (Matthew): We felt comfortable. And when we left their offices we didn’t have any more questions, just like, it's not like we forgot to ask him 20 questions. Like, everything was answered without us even having to ask the questions.
>> (Rachel): We knew before, we knew as soon as they walked out of the room and gave us a minute by ourselves, we knew right then that we were coming to MUSC.
>> (Matthew): We used to plan things after my scans. You know, since being in a clinical trial, we can plan stuff for three and four months out now. That's a game changer. Before it was like, 'Man, you got to wait, give me two weeks, let me see what my scans are, and possibly we'll be able to make plans.'
>> (Description): Matt mimes holding a phone up to his ear. A breeze ruffles the feathers of an egret perched on a dock. Matt in his boat navigates past a series of docks.
>> (Matthew): But, you know, now I've got plans now. I'm going to, Louisiana in April, going fishing.
For three years, I didn't care about a boat. I didn't care about going out on the boat at all.
>> (Rachel): But that boat is his peace. In all of the chaos that's going on inside of him, that's where he finds his peace.
>> (Matthew): Thank goodness for the clinical trial.
I just wish would have known earlier. I know. (overlapping talk) Hopefully this interview educates just a couple people out there that, you know, don't be scared of the clinical trial.
>> (Rachel)" He's still here, and I firmly believe it's because of this trial. Wholeheartedly.
This trial has given us.
>> (Matthew): It has been a game changer.
>> (Rachel): Yes, it has given us an opportunity to look at life again instead of literally watching it go by and waiting. And it's been, it's been an absolute blessing.
>> (Matthew): Sure has.
>> (Rachel): It saved his life.
>>(Matthew): Definitely.
>>(Description): The MUSC Hollings Cancer Center logo.
