Robyn Fine, Stage IV

In 2009 I found a small mole on my back that had turned black. I went to my primary doctor and it was biopsied and came back melanoma. I had the wide excision and my cancer was stage 1 at that time. One day in September 2012 I noticed a small lump in my left breast. Of course, my mind went right to breast cancer but on October 1,2012 I was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. I was told to get my affairs in order. That didn’t sit well with me so I went for a second opinion. The melanoma specialist I saw told me that there was hope and not to give up. Surgeries, immunotherapy, depression, colitis, brain mets, craniotomies, gamma knife radiation and chemo for brain tumors followed. My oncologist was right! There is so much hope! I am now 12 years NED! I spend part of my free time advocating for melanoma research and teaching sun safety and melanoma awareness classes!

Robyn Fine
Stage IV
Age 57
Date of Diagnosis: 2009
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103