This Doctor Cured His Own Rare Illness Against All Odds

In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with Dr. David Fajgenbaum, physician-scientist and Castleman disease survivor, to share his extraordinary journey from critically ill patient to life-saving researcher. David opens up about nearly dying multiple times in his 20s, navigating a rare disease with no clear treatment, and the emotional toll of living with uncertainty. This conversation explores resilience, medical innovation, and how turning personal suffering into purpose can change and save lives.

Chapters:
00:00 David Fajgenbaum’s life-threatening medical crisis
02:18 From medical student to critically ill patient
05:34 What Castleman disease is — and why it’s so dangerous
09:12 Nearly dying multiple times in his 20s
13:45 The emotional toll of chronic, life-threatening illness
18:06 When doctors don’t have answers
26:10 Researching his own rare disease
30:44 Repurposing existing drugs to save lives
35:18 The breakthrough that changed everything
43:36 Finding meaning after medical trauma
48:05 Advice for people facing rare or misunderstood illnesses
51:12 Hope, resilience, and redefining survival

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