Survivor Stories

Janine Bell

Diagnosed 07/02/2015

Four years ago my mother, Kathy was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.  Mom’s cancer was unique as she didn’t have a spot to remove. Melanoma with no primary is rare and often missed. My mother was turned away from one treatment facility, after she was  told “we don’t take your type of cancer.”  When we finally made it to the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion, Dr Ernstoff introduced mom to immunotherapy. Mom went through 4 treatments, each 2 weeks apart. She had a complete response, with no cancer detected a few months later. We never gave up! Our wish is that anyone else who is going through this, hears mom’s story and is hopeful.