From our partner, Treatment Diaries, this is a diary entry of a melanoma patient first diagnosed in 2012.

Diagnosis – Malignant Melanoma 3B
Male – 57 years old
First diagnosed Feb 2012
5 operations in a 1.5 year period upgraded to stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma
BRAF POS, as of Aug 5,2013.
Fully Disabled since Oct 30, 2013
Currently on Zelboraf Clinical Trial
Been NED since December 31, 2013

My recent MRI followed by a pet scan were both clear once again! I am still on Zelboraf at 1 pill a day. I have begun using CBD oil twice daily along with all the other things I do this to help me stay healthier and to keep the beast at bay. Come the end of October, I will have been off work for 1 year, on disability/ssi for income.  I still make it to the gym 1-3 times a week and still work out with friends.  On top of that, I take rides on my motorcycle and visit family. I still have fatigue and I sometimes nap a lot still as a result of  the side effects of Zelboraf but I no longer have any evidence of disease.

Pursuing a clinical trial was scary at first but really my only option.  My only option turned out to be the best thing for me and for my family.  I hope my story will inspire others to keep an open mind and to hope for the impossible.  Hopefully this will help others see that some of what the doctors do does help for the better, I don’t know?  Well we all know this is the one club no one wanted to join, but we are in this together and tomorrow’s a new day!!!!

Still thriving as of July 22, 2015.

This abbreviated story of a melanoma cancer diagnosis and clinical trial experience which spans multiple diaries and is available on www.TreatmentDiaries.com.  Sharing your story is empowering.  Join us for completely private and anonymous exchanges about your health.