He thought it was gout. Doctors said he needed hospice. A clinical trial saved his life.

October 24, 2026 / 8:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Ryan Goepel knew he didn't always treat his gout as well as he should. The inflammatory condition can be triggered by diet and lifestyle factors, and flare-ups can cause pain and discomfort.

When the Florida father of three's knee started hurting during a trip in September 2024, Goepel thought it was just one of those flares. But when the ache didn't go away, he went to his doctor. She gave him some medication, and took blood to run tests. Two days later, she called with alarming results.

"She said, 'Stop whatever you're doing, and go straight to the hospital.' And I'm like, 'What do you mean?'" Goepel recalled. "She says, 'Just go. You have no immune system. I don't know what's wrong. Just go.'"

Goepel rushed to a nearby sports medicine hospital, where he underwent another round of blood work. He became alarmed when an oncologist came to discuss the results.

"I'm like, 'Why are you here? I have a sore knee,'" Goepel said. "And she's like, 'Well, actually, you have leukemia.'"

His condition was critical, and his organs were on the verge of shutting down. The doctors told Goepel's…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/