After being told he had only months to live, writer and comedian David Downs (Away Laughing) went online to blog about his experiences with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Then a stranger from the United States reached out, and two years later Downs was told he was clear of cancer after entering a clinical trial of an innovative treatment in Boston. Director/producer Annie Goldson follows the self-styled "genetically modified" survivor, as he sets out to help fellow Kiwis dealing with cancer. A Mild Touch of Cancer, named after Down's 2019 book, was set to premiere as part of the 2021 NZ International Film Festival.