Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir

‘Chasing My Cure’ is a memoir of Dr. David Fajgenbaum who after years of being top of his game both mentally and physically was hit by a crushing disease that took months to diagnose and almost killed him.Quarterback in Divison 1 Football and premed at Georgetown University and nicknamed ’The Beast’ Dr. Fajgenbaum watched his organs fail, his body bloat, and his doctors confused and unsure how to help. Finally diagnosed with the rare disease, Castleman syndrome, and ‘cured’ with chemotherapy he went back to life as a pre-med student only to see at least 5 more relapses.Dr. Fajgenbaum didn’t quit when the drugs stopped working - he researched, connected the individual doctors and researchers for Castleman’s syndrome around the world, and together found a medication that has kept him in remission to allow him to finish his medical training and start his family with the love of his life.When does the movie come out?My Mom sent me a cut out clipping from Reader’s Digest about Dr. Fajgenbaum (isn’t she the cutest) because we have so much in common:Undergrad at GeorgetownDivision I athletes (I played field hockey)Pre-med then medical schoolWe both lost parents in college - Dr. Fajgenbaum’s mother died of brain cancer and my father died of a heart attack - Dr. F started AMF - a support group for children that lose parents in college that is now a national group with chapter in colleges across the US (I graduated many years before David was at Georgetown and I wish I had this group when my father died)We’re both authors and passionate about our respective fields of medicineMy Mom was right - we do have a lot in common but seriously - this book is an amazing read and Dr. Fajgenbaum is a true inspiration for persistence, strength, compassion, and determination.

“Chasing my Cure” is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It is a story that will stay with you and fundamentally change the way you view the world. It is scientific and poetic, a mystery and a love story, and a story of near defeat and ultimate triumph all at the same time. Beautifully written - I literally could not put it down. I have told every friend and family member I know to read it, and you should as well. David is destined to change the world and the telling of his story in his terrific book is the beginning. Accurately described as in the same league as “When Breath Becomes Air.”

My husband was just diagnosed with Castleman disease. A rare disease that very few doctors are familiar with, we were at a loss as to exactly what we were dealing with and where he could best be treated. Written by a Doctor who himself has this disease, this book is both a personal story and a resource for much needed understand and information about current treatment and research. This tool enabled us to become knowledgeable not only about treatment but pointed us to the best facilities and doctors who could help us. If you or a loved one, or anyone you know has been diagnosed with Castleman this is a wonderful guide. I highly recommend it.

When I finally started to read Chasing My Cure, by author and doctor David Fajgenbaum, I had decided I wasn't going to like it. It was going to be boring and I wondered why had I requested it. I read a little and then I read a little bit more and I just kept reading. It was fascinating and should not have been placed in the same category as Atul Gawande's Being Mortal or Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air. Fajgenbaum's moving chronicle to find a cure for his own sickness before it kills him is written with a sense of urgency, deep emotion and not even a tinge of self-pity. He writes with an earnestness and frankness about both the humility one must accept as a patient and healer with a mysterious, possibly deadly malady. The doctor offers his readers an uncommon perspective on disease and doctoring. Fajgenbaum's story is unusual but not unheard of in a world of people being diagnosed with diseases that have no cure. He was a former Georgetown quarterback, nicknamed the Beast, in medical school where he was also known for his unmatched mental stamina. But things changed dramatically when he began suffering from inexplicable fatigue. In a matter of weeks, his organs were failing and he was read his last rites. Doctors were baffled by his condition, which they had yet to even diagnose. Floating in and out of consciousness, Fajgenbaum prayed for the equivalent of a game day overtime: a second chance. His mother died of brain cancer while he was still in college and he vowed to become a doctor to fight cancer. When his own illness was diagnosed he ended up becoming the doctor to take on his own rare disease. Miraculously, Fajgenbaum survived.  Did he have cancer? No. The near-death relapses repeated themselves from what would eventually be identified as a form of Castleman's Disease, an extremely deadly and rare condition that acts like a cross between cancer and an autoimmune disorder. The only drug available didn't work and David suffered 4 more agonizing relapses moving so near death he was given last rites.  He struggled with the realization that any further medical breakthrough was unlikely to happen in time to save his life. Between hospitalizations he studied his own charts and tested his own blood samples, looking for clues that could unlock a new treatment. He also reached out to other Castleman's Disease patients and physicians and eventually came up with an ambitious plan to take advantage of the most promising research and world-class researchers to tackle the disease. It took five years for Fajgenbaum to see his hard work pay off. A treatment that he identified has induced a tentative remission and his novel approach to collaborative scientific inquiry has become a blueprint for advancing rare disease research, crowdsourcing. His incredible story demonstrates the power of hope, and what can happen when the forces of determination, family and faith all come together. The one weakness of the book is the writing. Fajgenbaum weaves a fascinating and important story but his words are often dry and dull. Both Fajgenbaum and the people who support him are just dry. It takes effort and skill to unlock even the most elementary narrative and in the hands of this immature but well-intentioned writer, Chasing My Cure falls short. Chasing My Cure is part detective story and part scientific quest. It's the mystery of what was happening in his own body and he uses his own experience to explain the incredible shortcomings of modern medicine. Fajgenbaum makes a compelling case for creating a new model of research and treatment, to break out of the silos of modern medicine. He shows a way to look for common ground across many different kinds of diseases, to be more innovative and nimble in the search for a cure. In the course of his research, Fajgenbaum established the Castleman’s Disease Collaborative Network. His organization has changed the way rare disease research and funding is handled. “I became invincible in hope only after I realized I was called to act …on my hope.”

When someone you love becomes deathly ill you get scared and seek answers. When those answers finally come , and you find out they have two rare diseases Castlemens and Poems you start your journey for answers and treatment. I was telling a doctor I work with and her eyes got big and she said I just read a book about that. So I bought the book plus copies for other family members. I love the day to day honesty of the author, so much drive and passion to find a cure for himself and others. The medical information and journey is intriguing and the hope it gives at the end gave me hope ! A great read if you have a loved one and you want to understand more about it.

Very pleased with this book, and would definitely order from this seller again. I'm in Canada, they are in US, didn't take long at all, thank you!

Amazong book that describes very well David’s journey.Thanks David for sharing your story.

I heard the author in a radio interview 2 years after I had been diagnosed with Poly Myalgia Rheumatica (PMR), an immune related arthritic condition which had left me bedridden from time to time, and in constant pain most of the rest of the time. At the time I ordered the book, I had been prescribed numerous combinations of steroids and immune-suppressing drugs, none of which gave me complete relief, and the side effects were very harsh and concerning.After reading this book (an easy read - the author has a talent for explaining very technical info in an interesting and easily understood format), I did some research on biologic class medications, and pressed my rheumatologist for solutions other than what I had been previously prescribed.I am now taking a biologic mentioned in the book (Tocilizumab - "Actemra") that has completely controlled my condition, with no apparent side effects - I am back to unlimited exercising, and the active lifestyle I enjoyed before being diagnosed.The book describes an incredible journey through the unknown for the author, having been diagnosed with a rare immune disease with no known cure that threatened to end his life several times, and the "out of the box" steps he took to solve his own dilemma. His efforts to save his own life, and give hope to others are truly heroic.

Excellent book, well written, amazingly emotional and inspiring.