In 2018, triathlete Michael Atkinson completed an IRONMAN race, unaware that a brain tumor was developing. But after he returned home from the competition, something felt off, and imaging soon revealed a brain tumor the size of a grape. After years of monitoring, in May 2023, the tumor was surgically removed in a complex procedure that preserved critical function and cleared nearly all of the mass. Under the care of Macarena de la Fuente, M.D., co-director of Sylvester Brain Tumor Institute, Atkinson began an FDA-approved IDH-inhibitor (rather than radiation or chemotherapy), reflecting advanced brain tumor expertise and individualized care. By 2024, Atkinson returned to competition, finishing IRONMAN events and reclaiming the sport that defines him.
