Lantzville, B.C.

In August 2015, I was diagnosed with stage 3B melanoma, which had manifested in my chest bone. I had two surgeries to remove the tumour along with eighteen lymph nodes, followed by twenty consecutive weekdays of Interferon. Yet, by January 2016 the melanoma had spread to my liver and had progressed to stage 4. I started an Opdivo + Yervoy immunotherapy clinical trial, which finished in May 2017. I had four instalments of each treatment, though I had to miss one because my liver and thyroid levels were elevated, which was treated with a synthetic corticosteroid. The treatments were ultimately a success, and I am in remission.

I truly feel that I am one of the most fortunate people in the world. I have been able to go back to work, and I have the support of my incredible wife Debbie, my sons Nick and Kris, my extended family, and my friends. It has been so important to me to acknowledge and thank all my caregivers for their continued support. I know that this journey is ‘our’ journey. They are experiencing the same fears and emotions that I am going through.

I also believe that if you’re fighting cancer, every person should share their story how they see fit. I went public for two reasons; I hoped that by sharing my story I could give others who are in a similar situation hope, and I want to help people recognize that our caregivers are our rocks, who are living the same rollercoaster of a journey as the cancer patient, and they also need support. Simply asking them how they are doing will go a long way in helping them during these difficult times.

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Cando, Saskatchewan

I was born with a black mole on my right heel that started to change and was diagnosed as cancerous, so I had surgery in 2002 to have it removed. In 2008 it came back and was removed again. Then in 2013 it came back in my lymph nodes; I had 14 removed, but in 2016 it came back with tumours inside and outside.

On Jan 14^th, 2016 a CT scan showed that my cancer had returned in my groin area, and potentially in my lung and kidneys.

The Doctor told me that there was nothing they could do for me, and I likely I didn’t have much time left. Then Dr. Abbas approached me, to see if I was interested in trying this new drug. I accepted, and I turned out to be a candidate for NIVOLUMAB-100. I was happy, as maybe there would be hope for a few more years; however, the program was 1-2 years long, and have to drive 2 1/2 hours to Saskatoon every two weeks.

My original CT scan showed a lymph tumour that was 4.7CM by 4.3cm; my last CT scan showed the tumour at 9mmx7mm. All my other tumours have gone, including the eighteen tumours on the outside of my stomach, which began to disappear in the first two weeks of my treatment. The spots on my lung, my bones, and my kidneys are all gone, and my blood work has always been good.

I have had no side effects except some fatigue and weight loss, I have never been sick nor did I lose any hair- though my hair has darkened and curled for the first time in my life.

Dr Abbas’ nurse Megan has been a lifeline for me. She is open to questions, finds the answers, and is just an awesome person. She makes you feel important, and Dr. Abbas has been very good to me in answering questions and giving me advice.

This drug is definitely a Godsend, as I am here to tell you about it.

I hope to have quite a few more years to live and enjoy my life, my family, and my friends. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in my health care, and especially this wonder drug called NIVOLUMAB-100.

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Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

In the Summer of 2013, I nicked a mole on my right calf while shaving; It bled a bit, but I didn’t think anything of it. I have always been covered head to toe in freckles and moles, and I had suntanned when I was younger, so I agreed to get a skin examination. The Doctor I went to decided it would be best to apply liquid nitrogen and burn the mole off. This procedure resulted in a keloid, which would eventually be diagnosed as melanoma in January, 2014. Two weeks later, the mole and surrounding lymph nodes were removed, revealing that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. I began taking interferon and radiation treatments. Aside from some side effects, I responded positively to the interferon; however, the radiation prevented my surgery wound from healing. After three extremely painful debridements, a vacuum was placed over my wound for ten months to help it heal.

After my interferon treatments ended my wound healed quickly, and I was optimistic. However, my six month checkup revealed that the melanoma had returned and metastasized to my lungs. I began receiving the drug Nivolumab, which I was scheduled to take for two years. In the following months, more tests would reveal that the cancer had metastasized to my breasts, skin, and my brain. I had begun taking the combination trial of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in four cycles every three weeks, which demonstrated positive effects on my lung and brain lesions. Since October 19th, 2016, I have been on maintenance treatment of Nivolumab every two weeks, and my most recent CT scan in April showed a complete response!

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 Millville, PA

At age 25, my life turned around quickly. I had recently had a baby in March 2016, and everything was going great and I was adjusting to my new lifestyle. I also accepted a new job in the medical field, which included scheduling appointments. I kept scheduling appointments for people to get skin checks and I thought that I should schedule one for myself, as I had an occurrence of basal cell carcinoma when I was sixteen. So, I scheduled a skin exam for myself, and had four moles removed. 

Then, on October 18 (my birthday), I got a phone call stating that one mole had come back very atypical and had tested positively for melanoma. They did not know how serious it was at the time, how long I had been walking around with it—  nothing. I was terrified. I was 25. I just had a baby. So many thoughts were going through my mind! A few weeks later I met with my Surgical Oncologist.  We talked about everything and set up my surgery. On November 16, I went in for surgery and a lymph node biopsy. I had two lymph nodes and all surrounding skin removed. I was diagnosed with T1 B melanoma of the abdominal wall. Two weeks later, I got the news that it had not spread to any other lymph nodes or body parts. I now attend melanoma clinic appointments every six months and practice sun safety. This was a scary experience that has resulted in a lifetime of appointments. I want to help anyone I can who is struggling with this disease, and get the word out there that skin cancer is preventable!

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Toronto, ON

Just before the summer of 2015, I noticed a dark mole on my left calf. At first, I thought that something was stuck to my leg and tried to remove it in the shower. However, I realized it was actually a mole. I was almost certain that it was not there before.

While I was on summer vacation with my family, the mole made an appearance once again. My mom looked at my calf and said “Hey, you have a piece of chocolate stuck to your leg!” When I told her that it was a mole, she confirmed that she’s never seen it before and I need to check on it.

Three months after discovering the mole, I went to my doctor. He told me that the mole didn’t look good and we needed to cut it off and send it for analysis. Three weeks later I got my results from the lab and saw the diagnosis: “melanoma of SSM type, level 3, Breslow 0.36mm,” and then at the end the phrase “additional surgery is strongly recommended”.

I remember feeling scared and alone. I couldn’t understand what exactly the diagnosis meant and I didn’t know what to do next.

For several weeks my family and I were on a hunt for answers, trying to find what ‘strongly recommended’ really means, how urgent the problem is, and the main question ‘how serious it is’. During all that time I had a pressing thought in my head: “I have cancer cells in my leg and they might spread!”

I eventually got an appointment at Hospital Saint-Louis in Paris, France (where I lived at the time) which is recognized for being a top hospital to deal with melanomas. The amazing Dr. Madjlessi answered all of my questions, reassuring me that my case is one of the easiest as I caught it early enough. I got my surgery the next day to remove the remaining cancer tissue from my calf. Results of the surgery came in as expected – no metastases, and clean lymph glands.

Now I’m in the risk group. Another melanoma can appear and most likely will be bigger and faster growing than the first one. I need to check up with my dermatologist every 6 months and avoid long sun exposure.

What I have taken out of this experience is that it is important to be aware of what is going on in my body. Melanoma can be treated much more easily if it’s noticed in time.

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Montreal, QC

I am 52 years old and I have had a lot of luck; having not met the right people at the right time, I would not be alive to tell you my story.

I am proud to say that I have survived two recurrences of malignant melanoma since my initial diagnosis at forty seven years old.

On December 22, 2011, the doctor called me at work. I had just been promoted to the position of director. The results of a beauty spot that had been removed from my leg came back as T1a melanoma. The doctor planned to make an extended incision for 1 cm and check the sentinel ganglion.

The pathology report came back negative for extended tissue and the sentinel ganglion; I felt very lucky. According to the surgeon, only 20% of T1a melanomas reoccur, so I was not concerned at all. I felt like this episode was an alert, a message to slow down and enjoy life. The kids were old enough now, and I was ready to make a few changes. I took three weeks off work to recover from surgery.

On the fifth day of our cruise to the Bahamas in October 2014, I felt a big nodule in my groin area of the same leg. I knew immediately what was happening.

The surgeon removed seventeen ganglions. Two of them were positive for melanoma, but one was over 3 cm and was extending over the capsula. I received one year of Interferon treatment, over one hundred and twenty extremely painful injections. I took nine months off work and worked under Interferon to be able to pay the bills and the extra for this expensive treatment.

In November 2015, we were very close to the end of Interferon treatment. A PET scan showed multiple lung metastasis. My life expectancy was less than a year. However, I had the chance of being approved to be a part of a trial for a new chemo available in Quebec from September 2015 onwards.

Currently, I have been receiving chemotherapy every second week since December 8, 2015, and will receive it for life with the help of Bristol-Myers. I have a miraculous happy ending: my scan from July 2016 shows a regression of all the lung metastasis.

Chemotherapy is demanding, the sides effects are painful, but I am alive! I am still unable to work but I am thinking of going back one day per week in the near future! I am living proof that, with the help of the latest treatments (Nivolumab/Opdivo in my case), living with Stage 4 melanoma is now possible.

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