Defying the Odds: How Michael Lax Beat a Rare Cancer and Reclaimed His Life
Cancer was the last thing on Michael Lax’s mind—especially a cancer as rare as cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer that affects only about two people per 100,000 each year. With no family history and no warning signs, the diagnosis felt unreal. Within months, his health declined sharply, and after undergoing surgery at a local hospital, he was given a grim prognosis. His chances of long-term survival were described in one word he’ll never forget: infinitesimal.
But Michael wasn’t ready to accept that his story was already written. Seeking a second opinion at UCSF changed the course of his life.
Today, years after his surgery at UCSF, Michael is cancer-free. He returns every few months for checkups—visits he says he almost looks forward to, because each one confirms that he’s still healthy. He even jokes about planning a golf game with his surgeon, Dr. Carlos Corvera.
Here is Michael’s inspiring journey and his message for others facing rare cancers.
Life Before Cancer: A Regular Guy Focused on Work and Family
Before the diagnosis, Michael lived the life of a typical hardworking family man.
“I worked long hours. My focus was providing for my family and growing in my career,” he recalls.
But everything shifted the moment he heard the word cancer. Career goals took a back seat. Survival became his new mission.
Facing the Toughest Decision of His Life
After an initial surgery and a devastating prognosis of about nine months to live, Michael was forced to make a difficult choice:
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Spend those nine months with his family, or
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Take a chance on a complex surgery at UCSF that might extend his life—or take it sooner.
“It was a gamble,” he says. “Do I risk everything for a chance at something more?
The turning point came from the compassion and dedication of the UCSF team.
Dr. Corvera gave Michael his personal cell number—a gesture that stunned him. One Saturday, the surgeon stepped away from his child’s soccer game just to talk Michael through his fears.
“That moment made me realize I wasn’t just another patient. He genuinely cared.”
Even the anesthesiologist, Dr. Niemann, took the time to call Michael directly.
He cautioned that Michael might not even be strong enough for the surgery after chemotherapy.
Instead of discouraging him, it motivated Michael.
“I took it as a challenge,” Michael says.
He started training on his elliptical daily, determined to pass the stress test and prove he was strong enough to fight.
The Turning Point: A Second Opinion That Changed Everything
Michael’s biggest lesson from his experience is simple but powerful:
“Always get a second opinion.”
His search led him to discover that some hospitals—like UCSF—have advanced expertise in rare cancers. That difference turned out to be life-changing.
Unlike his first hospital, the UCSF team didn’t talk about “managing the end of life.”
Instead, they focused on possibilities.
Dr. Emily Kelley, one of the oncologists, presented Michael’s case to the UCSF tumor board—an expert panel that reviews complex cases. After reviewing everything, the specialists had surprising news:
They believed Michael did have a surgical option.
This was the opposite of what he had been told before.
“When we heard that, everything changed,” he says.
Today: Cancer-Free and Living Fully Again
Now, several years later, Michael is healthy, strong, and living with gratitude.
He continues regular checkups at UCSF and sees those appointments as reassuring milestones.
“I almost look forward to them,” he says. “They remind me that I made the right decision—and that I’m still here.”
He’s even working toward something he never imagined during his darkest days:
playing golf with the surgeon who helped save his life.
Michael’s Message for Others Facing Rare or Serious Diagnoses
His advice comes from experience:
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Don’t accept a single opinion—especially with rare cancers.
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Find hospitals and doctors who specialize in your condition.
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Look for providers who treat you like a person, not a statistic.
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Hold on to hope—even when the odds look small.
Michael Lax is living proof that sometimes the best way to beat the odds is simply refusing to give up.
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