Category: My Story
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#GIVINGTUESDAY #Melanoma #Makeadifference
What an amazing time we are living in… We are seeing new protocols increase melanoma five-year survival rates to nearly 98%! It is remarkable when you consider in 2009 survival rates were just 4%. I remember getting all excited in 2011 when we saw survival rates bump up to 10%. Life has come full circle…
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Five years ago today I was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer and given 6 months to live. I am thankful for every day I have been given, an amazing husband, Michael Stratos who would not give up, his positive energy kept me alive to fight another day, my supportive family and friends who hung…
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FDA approved Merck’s anti-PD1
Yesterday the FDA approved Merck’s anti-PD1 drug for use in metastatic melanoma. This drug has the best response rate of any drug approved for melanoma, and everyone expects big changes because of this approval. Keytruda is only approved for patients who have progressed on ipi and, if applicable, on a BRAF inhibitor. I am quite…
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Surgeon General Takes Notice of Skin Cancer Risk
YEA TEAM! I am very excited to see the Nations Doctor (Surgeon General) stand up and take notice on a familiar skin-cancer prevention message and recognize the impact that it is having on America. Skin cancer has increased 200 % since 1973 with the dawn of the tanning beds and the hope of acquiring a…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…