Former Arkansas News Photographer Fights Aggressive Cancer

Marcus McDonald, a retired TV news photographer, battles small-cell lung cancer that has spread to his brain.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:23pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image showing the internal structure of a human lung partially obscured by a shadowy tumor mass, conceptually representing the aggressive cancer that a former news photographer is fighting.An X-ray image reveals the internal battle against an aggressive lung cancer that has spread to the brain of a former Arkansas news photographer.Little Rock Today

When Marcus McDonald, a former Arkansas TV news photographer, learned he had small-cell lung cancer that had spread to his brain, he refused to give up. Despite undergoing brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and multiple cancer recurrences, McDonald remained determined to fight the aggressive disease. He became one of the first patients in Arkansas to receive a new immunotherapy drug called Imdelltra, which has given him a chance to live with his cancer.

Why it matters

Small-cell lung cancer is a rare and aggressive form of the disease that often spreads before it's detected, making it difficult to treat. McDonald's story highlights the importance of early detection, access to cutting-edge treatments, and the power of a positive attitude in the face of a devastating diagnosis.

The details

In 2023, McDonald received a Midwest Regional Emmy Award 'Silver Circle' recognition for his decades of work as a TV news photographer in Arkansas. Shortly after, he began experiencing unusual and scary symptoms, including difficulty breathing. After his niece insisted he seek treatment, McDonald was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer that had also spread to his brain. He underwent two brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and other treatments, but the cancer kept returning. Fortunately, his doctor recalled a clinical trial at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute for a new immunotherapy drug called Imdelltra, which the FDA had recently approved. McDonald became one of the first patients in Arkansas to receive the treatment, which has allowed him to live with his cancer.

  • In 2023, McDonald received the Midwest Regional Emmy Award 'Silver Circle' recognition.
  • Shortly after the Emmy award, McDonald began experiencing unusual and scary symptoms, including difficulty breathing.

The players

Marcus McDonald

A former Arkansas TV news photographer who is now retired and battling small-cell lung cancer that has spread to his brain.

Dr. Kostas Arnaoutakis

A medical oncologist at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute who is treating McDonald and prescribed the new immunotherapy drug Imdelltra.

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

The cancer treatment center where McDonald is receiving care, including the clinical trial for the Imdelltra immunotherapy drug.

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What they’re saying

“With the right attitude, the right doctors, you can accomplish anything, and don't take it as 'I'm going to die'. never thought about dying, never through this journey'.”

— Marcus McDonald

“He still has cancer, but he lives with cancer. That's a concept that many years ago we would not have.”

— Dr. Kostas Arnaoutakis, Medical Oncologist

What’s next

The sixth annual 'Be a Part of the Cure' walk, sponsored by UAMS, will be held on May 2 to celebrate and honor cancer survivors and their families.

The takeaway

Marcus McDonald's story of fighting an aggressive form of lung cancer with a positive attitude and access to innovative treatments like the new immunotherapy drug Imdelltra offers hope and inspiration to others facing similar health challenges. His journey highlights the importance of early detection, cutting-edge medical care, and the power of determination in the face of a devastating diagnosis.