Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies • Hacker News Board

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#111

Post by nextos » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:06 PM UTC

sytse wrote: post #88

Thanks for posting this. Happy to answer questions!

This is very impressive, top labs doing research often don't have experimental designs that are this elaborate. Was the TCR and BCR-seq you conducted helpful to design cell therapies, neoantigen vaccines, and monitor progress?

Given that you carry the HLA-B*27:05 allele, you might have been blessed by being predisposed to a better response. But probably you want to keep an eye on future autoimmunity issues. Talking from experience...

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#112

Post by SilentM68 » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:06 PM UTC

He is lucky to have the resources and determination to start his own companies and tackle the problem himself. I wish the majority of tech bros would act in a similar fashion.

The sad truth is, that in most countries, health systems do not allocate sufficient resources or financial support to doctors to correctly diagnose medical conditions accurately as it is not in their economic, interest to do so.

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#113

Post by smohare » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:07 PM UTC

SilentM68 wrote: post #107

appstorelottery wrote: post #40

This is the most supremely motivating post I've seen in a long time. I know what it is to be diagnosed with cancer, being rushed to surgery - it's amazing how quickly the medical-industrial complex can move once you've got a diagnosis (at least in Australia). I had a short period of contemplating terminally, because cancer claimed the life of most of my family. Thankfully, after surgery it was gone. To see Sid use hi…

"Anything is possible," is the correct mindset when it comes to chronic or incurable diseases.

[dead]

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#114

Post by CommenterPerson » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:08 PM UTC

Hmmm .. where have we heard this story before? Tech bro tries alternative treatments for cancer .. somebody at Apple?

I wish him all the best and good luck. Maybe in 50, 100 years we'll have more definitive cures for cancer. Till then it's mostly slash, burn and poison, unfortunately.

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#115

Post by appstorelottery » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:09 PM UTC

gen_1 wrote: post #102

appstorelottery wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in the EU at present, I haven't heard of Dr C. I've seen a little Doctor Worship on Reddit, but no doctor who can deal with Chronic conditions. In the NL the only option was Tunica albuginea plication (TAP) which results in a loss of length. I've read that PIG in 44% of cases fixes this, however... ugh... surgery. From the bottom of my heart I wish you success in this, and I'd love to stay in contact and hear…

---

@ aol... so retro ;-) - sent you an email.

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#116

Post by DEDLINE » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:09 PM UTC

sytse wrote: post #88

Thanks for posting this. Happy to answer questions!

I have worked as an architect in HCLS technology for 10 years with Google and AWS.

Listening to you stitch all the technology and innovation together, moving from the information world to the physical world, as a patient, almost brought me to tears.

You said this will be the standard of care in 30-years, but the capability is here today. Listening to your recording is a profound moment in my life.

Thank you for sharing your journey.

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#117

Post by ares623 » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:10 PM UTC

hubrix wrote: post #87

This story and the guy curing his dogs cancer leads me to believe what's missing is a jurisdiction that allows people with money to do whatever experiments they want/need to move medicine forward.

Jesus fucking Christ we are so fucked.

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#118

Post by ares623 » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:11 PM UTC

101008 wrote: post #67

This is wonderful but I feel bad for all the people who doesnt have the resources to go through the same. For 99.9% of the population, a diagnostic like his means a really different outcome. I know he is trying to fix this with his investments and companies, but sharing this story could be seen as "boasting"... "I went through this and I survived, while your loved ones wouldn't"

I agree. It would've been so easy to address that too. Just acknowledge it and be vocal about supporting policies that make it better for others.

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#119

Post by appstorelottery » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:12 PM UTC

sytse wrote: post #88

Thanks for posting this. Happy to answer questions!

Thanks for the inspiration! Is there anything new you've learned about fibrosis in your journey?

Re: Founder of GitLab battles cancer by founding companies

#120

Post by sytse » Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 10:13 PM UTC

appstorelottery wrote: post #119

sytse wrote: post #88

Thanks for posting this. Happy to answer questions!

Thanks for the inspiration! Is there anything new you've learned about fibrosis in your journey?

I'm not knowledgable able fibrosis except that my tumor expresses a lot of FAP and it is a workable target for radio and immune drugs.