Doctors thought a dad of 3 had cancer. An offhand suggestion led to an unexpected diagnosis.
CBS News••business
Key Points:
- Andy Provencher was initially misdiagnosed with terminal lung cancer after a mountain biking accident revealed lung masses, but further tests were inconclusive, leading to a year-long search for answers.
- Provencher was eventually diagnosed with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), a rare immune condition causing inflammation and scarring in multiple organs, often misdiagnosed due to its complex symptoms and lack of definitive tests.
- He participated in a clinical trial for inebilizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting B cells, which significantly reduced disease flares and steroid dependence; this medication became the first FDA-approved treatment for IgG4-RD in April 2025.
- Three years post-diagnosis, Provencher's symptoms have
