‘Trust, But Verify’: How a Cancer Survivor Became His Own Best Advocate

After he received a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, Larry Whipple knew his chances were not good. But after his initial consultation near home left him with few options, Whipple became his best own advocate by asking the right questions and seeking the best experts, which meant finding a second opinion nearly 1,500 miles from his hometown.

This week on the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Whipple, who’s been cancer free for two years, about how his insistence on the best care led to results he could only dream of, and how other patients with cancer can take an active role in their own care, too.

When it comes to how his fighting spirit worked in his favor after his diagnosis, his tenacity served him well. “One of my daughter-in-law’s closest friends, when she heard that I was diagnosed with cancer, said ‘Oh, I feel so sorry for cancer,’” Whipple laughs, “because I’m a fighter and I don’t give up!”