Thriver, Now Researcher: Chad Pecot, M.D.
How Dr. Chad Pecot is using his personal cancer journey to inspire his work as a medical oncologist
Chad Pecot, M.D., former V Scholar and lung cancer medical oncologist at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has an unwavering passion to extinguish cancer.
Dr. Pecot was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was 20 years old as an undergraduate student. He was presented with few options and underwent chemotherapy. He remembers the grueling treatment but was thankfully cured. He witnessed first-hand how research played a role leading to his positive outcome. That experience led him to be a cancer researcher, dedicating his career to helping people walking in a path that he walked.
Dr. Pecot’s V Foundation grant was one of the first grants he received as an independent researcher. To him, the support gave confidence, reassurance and encouragement.
“The first grant I got at UNC was a V Foundation grant,” Dr. Pecot said. “I didn’t realize how big a deal it was. I could just tell you that really gave me confidence to keep going. It helps you push through failures and helps build your program.”
Any grant would not be possible without the support of V Foundation donors.
“You don’t realize how important what you [donors to the V Foundation] are doing is. What you are doing to donate and make a difference is mattering. I’m still alive and kicking in the research world because you guys really gave me the inspiration and made me feel like someone believes in me. I can’t think of a more important time for us to have support like this than right now.”
