Health & Fitness
Grounded by Cancer, a Pilot Flies Again
How CAR T-cell therapy at NJ's only nationally ranked cancer center gave an 83-year-old veteran his life and his wings back.
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From Fighter Jets to a Fight for His Life: A Veteran's Second Chance
For 83-year-old veteran and pilot Mark Daniels, who faced down enemy fire in Vietnam, a second, more aggressive cancer diagnosis threatened to ground him for good. After beating lymphoma once before, his hope was fading as traditional chemotherapy failed.
He turned to the team at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center—New Jersey’s only nationally ranked cancer center, recognized by U.S. News & World Report 2025–2026. It’s here, at the institution that sets the standard for cancer care and achieves survival rates exceeding national benchmarks, that he met the man he calls his "lifeline" and a "miracle worker": Andre Goy, M.D.
Dr. Goy proposed a revolutionary path forward: a cutting-edge immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy that would harness the power of Mark's own immune system. Discover the incredible story of how this groundbreaking treatment gave a brave pilot his life back, allowing him to return to the skies he loves.
Read more to learn why Mark believes the compassionate team at John Theurer Cancer Center is what truly sets them apart.
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