Category: Blog

  • Every Day Is A Winding Road, I get a little bit closer…

    To feeling fine… I am feeling fine… I got to tell you, I’ve had a great run on my pink little pills – the BRAF Inhibitor I’ve been on. Nothing else. I saw no signs of progression from February 28th, 2010 to May 13, 2014. Yes, my friends, a record of 4 years and three…

  • Go Team Fighting Melanoma!

    Go Team Fighting Melanoma!

    Go Team Fighting Melanoma! Thank you, all who donated, volunteered, and gave me the gift of your time to help make this the most successful Miles for Melanoma event of All Times. The race hit a fundraising record of $ 125,000. Blowing away the record for the most funds raised by a community Miles for…

  • Join Team Fighting Melanoma for the Second Annual Miles for Melanoma DC

    What a year we have had for melanoma research and new drug developments! Lets celebrate this amazing accomplishment by walking together at the Second Annual DC Miles For Melanoma Event. WHEN:  Saturday, April 26, 2014 Check-in and Registration begin at 7 a.m.               Run/Walk begins at 8:00 a.m.   WHAT:   A 5K run/walk that will…

  • Mission Accomplished – NEW MEK COMBO IS HERE!

    Mission Accomplished – NEW MEK COMBO IS HERE!

    The recently approved BRAF & MEK combo is changing the landscape for melanoma patients. It’s been a rocky road at best for these amazing doctors who are working overtime to figure It all out, Lucky for me I am along for the ride! My news interview yesterday — WUSA Channel 9 – the CBS affiliate…

  • HAPPY NEW YEAR! Why not try something new?

    Sometimes you just have to dive in and swim even though the water is dark and cold to get to the other side. There are some things I haven’t shared with you lately because I hate being a whiner – I’ve been having strange neurological side-effects again, and, since April, they have gotten worse. I…

  • Merry Christmas!

    My family and I want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas! I know many of you have so many things burdening your mind, like Fighting Melanoma, but there are many things we should be thankful for – family, friends, smart and caring doctors, new technologies………… I hope you all have…

  • Arrivederci LA!

    But not good-bye, UCLA!   You know, I’ve never been a good “breaker-upper”….. I seem to always come up with excuses – like “the timing is wrong”, or “it’s a bad day for change”, or “I’m too busy”, or “I’m too tired”…. I’m not good with lack of flexibility, either…. GENETECH, though, seems to have…

  • DC’s First Annual Miles For Melanoma

    DC’s First Annual Miles For Melanoma

    GO TEAM!!      Thank you for supporting team “Fighting Melanoma”. I truly appreciate all of your time and generous contributions.   We can celebrate our success at the First Annual DC Miles For Melanoma Fun Run last Sunday in Vienna, Va.  This was our first event and WE raised $45,000 that will go towards melanoma research and take us one step closer…

  • Vermurafenib – Not Everyone Is Up For A Holiday!

    Experts look at the up side of taking a drug holiday. Not everyone is convinced, but I LOVE MY HOLIDAY!! However, a vemurafenib expert discouraged any use of the drug outside of labeling. “Clinicians should not try [intermittent dosing] at home,” said Keith Flaherty, MD, from the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston. Read…

  • Three Years and One Month on Zelboraf!

    Last day in LA – taking a red-eye back to DC tonight. The visit with Dr. Ribas went great, and everything seems to be on track. I spoke with Dr. Ribas about future options, should I need to consider them. First discussed adding a MEK drug to my current BRAF treatment, though he said (and…