Take Control After a Melanoma Diagnosis
25 September 2019 In Melanoma Stories, Treatment
You are used to giving the marching orders to your own body, but when cancer steers it in the wrong direction, it can feel like you are no longer in control. Yet this is when it’s most important to take control, stressed melanoma physicians, patients, and advocates at the 2019...
SPORE Grants: Putting Collaboration Front & Center
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 24 September 2019 In Allies & Partnerships, Science, Treatment
In medicine, sometimes the biggest and most game-changing advancements come from a single person – who through tireless work – arrives at a true ‘eureka’ moment. This ‘go it alone’ concept is not only reinforced through television and movies, it’s also bolstered in the way the medical community makes research...
Living Life With Melanoma
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 13 September 2019 In Melanoma Stories
Ken Billett’s life-long journey with melanoma began in 1995 when he took a leap of faith and had a spot checked out on his shoulder at a health expo. He knew that he had had more than his fair share of sunburns growing up in Florida during the 60’s and...
Treating Melanoma Patients Before Surgery
3 September 2019 In Allies & Partnerships, Science, Treatment
Over 90% of patients who have their tumors surgically removed will never see their tumors come back or spread to other sites, but is there a way to prevent recurrence in those patients that will eventually go on to relapse? One approach currently being tested in clinical trials, termed neoadjuvant therapy, is to treat early stage patients with targeted or immunotherapy before surgical removal of their tumor.
One Day at a Time: Dylan Overcomes Depression & Melanoma
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 12 August 2019 In Melanoma Stories
Melanoma taught Dylan to stay in the moment and to tackle things one day at a time. There were so many things that were outside of Dylan's control, so he decided to focus on the things that he could do something about.
Acral Melanoma & Adjuvant Therapy – One Patient’s Decision
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 23 July 2019 In Melanoma Stories, Treatment
When David was diagnosed with Stage 3 acral melanoma he faced a major decision. The surgery to remove it was successful - but should he move forward with adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of it returning? Learn more about the benefits - and risks - of this approach and read what David decided.
A Better Combination?
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 19 July 2019 In Science
The FDA's 2015 approval of the first ever checkpoint immunotherapy combination of ipilimumab + nivolumab was considered a major breakthrough. Since then, research has shown that the combo yields slightly better results at the cost of increased side effects. Now, a new study asks if we can optimize the dose to produce the same effects with fewer side effects.
New Models for Testing Melanoma Drugs and Vaccines
15 July 2019 In Science, Treatment
Before experimental drugs and vaccines can ever be tested in people, they must first be studied in models of the disease. These models allow researchers to investigate scientific questions that they cannot answer using people due to unknown risks.
What Comes Next? The New Normal After Melanoma
7 July 2019 In Melanoma Stories
Although many patients and their loved ones would like to put melanoma behind them, it tends to be a lifetime journey. From life- long prevention concerns, fear of recurrence, feelings of isolation, and survivor’s guilt - get insight into the ‘new normal’ after melanoma.
Can We Combine Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Better Results?
By Kristen Mueller, Ph.D., MRA Scientific Program Director | 25 June 2019 In Science, Treatment
Researchers are now considering how to build upon the success of immune-based and targeted therapies to help even more patients live longer, healthier lives. This month, several studies reported on efforts to combine PD-1 based immunotherapy with BRAF/MEKi targeted therapy to form the first ‘triple combos’ in melanoma.