News
Bob Enrolls in Clinical Trial Testing NeoAdjuvant Therapy for Melanoma
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 2 November 2019 In Melanoma Stories, Science, Treatment
After being diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma, Bob chose to enroll in a clinical trial at Georgetown University, comparing the effectiveness of treating melanoma with pembrolizumab before or after surgery, what doctors call neo-adjuvant and adjuvant therapy respectively.
MRA is Raising the Treatment Bar
31 October 2019 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, Science, Treatment
We have made unprecedented progress that is transforming what it means to be diagnosed with melanoma. Today, we have more treatment options than ever before—in fact 12 new options have earned FDA approval since MRA's founding. But, it's still not enough.
Imaging the Immune Response in Melanoma
7 October 2019 In Science
We are fortunate to now have effective immune therapies for many melanoma patients. But unfortunately, we also now know that these treatments can often cause serious side effects, like diabetes and colitis, among other reactions. Consequently, there has been a push to develop a way to detect early on if...
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 Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 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 Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 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 Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 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 Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 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 Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 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.