Precision Care When It Mattered Most
After a delayed cancer diagnosis and serious complications, Ron Klarin found renewed hope and targeted treatment at Duke
Ron Klarin’s cancer journey began in Florida with a CT scan that revealed a small lung nodule – one that his doctors initially dismissed as low-risk. “They told me it was probably nothing. There was no urgency,” he said.
At the time, Ron and his wife, Bonnie, were in the process of moving to North Carolina to be closer to family. After the move, his symptoms escalated, including severe coughing fits with any physical activity, prompting him to seek further care. A PET scan and biopsy at a hospital near his house revealed small cell lung cancer that had already spread to his bones and lymph nodes.
The initial rounds of chemotherapy were rough, leading to multiple hospitalizations. After the first infusion, he was in the hospital for a week with sepsis. The second time, it was pneumonia and six days with chest tubes. Looking for a better option and a more coordinated approach, Ron turned to Duke.
At Duke, he was introduced to Dr. Eugene Vaios a radiation oncologist and a member of the Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis, after an MRI revealed two metastases in his brain. “That was a blow. I was devastated,” Ron said. “But meeting Dr. Vaios really changed my outlook. He put me so far at ease that I went from a state of high anxiety to, ‘Okay. Let’s go. Let’s do it.’”
Vaios recommended stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a focused, high-dose form of radiation that allows for targeted treatment that spares healthy tissue and reduces side effects. “Dr. Vaios was extremely thorough,” said Ron. “We went through the scans multiple times, and he explained everything in a way that made sense. That kind of attention builds trust. And I love how he geeks out over what he does. I felt much more comfortable with SRS as opposed to whole-brain radiation,” which he feared would significantly impact his cognitive abilities.
SRS treatments made a measurable difference for Ron. “Anything that has not decreased is static, and the metastases in my brain have basically been eliminated,” he said. “There’s still some inflammation and necrosis, but it’s trending in the right direction.”
Ron continues to receive care at Duke and remains optimistic about his progress. “Small cell lung cancer isn’t easy to treat, but I’m very confident in the outcome of my treatment,” he said. “Duke is fantastic. It really makes a difference where you go for your treatment, and I’ve been so impressed with the quality of care I’ve received here.”
Ron and Bonnie began donating to Duke in December 2024, and the couple recently became members of the Duke Tower Society – which honors those who have included Duke in their estate plans – when they committed a future portion of their trust to the Duke Cancer Institute, with a focus on advancing cancer research. “I believe in the work being done here,” Ron said. “We want to support it in a meaningful way.”
This story was originally featured on Duke University School of Medicine’s website.
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