Florida Man’s Battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Story of Hope and Survival

Ryan Goepel, a father of three from Florida, experienced persistent knee pain during a trip in September 2024. Initially attributing the discomfort to a flare-up of his gout, Goepel decided to consult his doctor when the pain didn’t subside. After conducting blood tests, his doctor delivered alarming news: Goepel had no functioning immune system and urgently needed to be hospitalized.

Upon arriving at a sports medicine hospital, further tests revealed a surprising diagnosis. An oncologist informed Goepel that he had leukemia. His condition was severe, and doctors advised Goepel’s family to consider hospice care. Despite this grim prognosis, Goepel and his girlfriend sought a second opinion and transferred to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami. There, a biopsy confirmed he had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood cancer with a five-year survival rate of about 30%.

Complicating his diagnosis, Goepel’s AML presented with adverse-risk genetic characteristics. This meant typical chemotherapy treatments were unlikely to be effective and could lead to severe side effects or relapse. However, a potential opportunity arose when Dr. Justin Watts, a hematologist-oncologist at the center, had an opening in a clinical trial.

The trial involved two medications traditionally used for older AML patients. Due to Goepel’s specific genetic makeup, his eligibility was considered unique. Upon acceptance, Goepel began the treatment with determination, supported by his girlfriend and the medical team.

Following this trial, Goepel experienced rapid and remarkable results. Within two weeks, his cancer entered remission. According to the trial’s published data, 25 out of 36 patients showed significant improvements, with 19 achieving complete remission. These results surpassed the standard treatment statistics, where only about 44% of AML patients with adverse-risk achieve similar success.

After the trial, Goepel still needed a bone marrow transplant to rebuild his immune system. Both of his sisters were perfect matches, allowing him to undergo the transplant in November 2024. Despite facing post-transplant challenges like rotavirus and pneumonia, Goepel’s recovery progressed positively.

Now cancer-free for two years, Goepel reflects on his journey, crediting the clinical trial and timely medical intervention for his survival. His story underscores the potential of personalized, adaptive treatments in combatting challenging diseases. Further research into treatment options for adverse-risk AML continues, inspiring hope for future patients.

Following his recovery, Goepel married his girlfriend in November 2025, marking a year since his remission. Embracing life after cancer, Goepel focuses on enjoying day-to-day life without the constant fear of recurrence, all while appreciating the chance to live free from cancer’s grasp.