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Over the course of a year, we connect with a great number of melanoma patients who share their cancer experiences; the highs, the lows, the successes and the losses.  At this time, we want to share a story with you.

Chris was diagnosed with late stage melanoma in May 2015; the cancer had metastasized into his lungs, kidney and pleural cavity.  Wanting to draw attention and awareness to melanoma, Chris contacted us to see what he could do to help, and from there he kicked off the inaugural Strides for Melanoma Awareness Walk in his hometown of Kamloops, BC.  While undergoing treatment, Chris pulled together his community and achieved not only one of the most successful walks, but was the top fundraiser across Canada.
Unfortunately, after the Strides walk, Chris took a turn for the worse.  It was at this point that Cam from Edmonton entered the picture.  After sharing his melanoma journey at a recent patient information session at the Cross Cancer Centre, we asked Cam to offer some peer support to Chris and his family.  As with Chris, Cam had been diagnosed with melanoma in his 30’s and it too had metastasized to his lungs.  Now, with a clean bill of health after nivolumab monotherapy, Cam was in a position to offer some insight and an empathetic ear as Chris began his own treatment on a combo immunotherapy trial.
As fate would have it, Chris ended up in Edmonton at the very same hospital where Cam still receives treatment – and with the very same doctor.  Cam was one of Chris’ first visitors and from there they have started a friendship that goes beyond melanoma; it includes a love of snowmobiling, boating and for a particular lake in BC where it turns out they have cabins 10 lots apart from each other.
“He came by and we had a delightful and inspiring visit.  As it turns out his lake property is just down the road from ours – we are almost neighbors.  It truly made our day.”

This story made our day.  It makes the work we do here to provide support and peer connections to patients well worth it. And this is why we are a network.  As patients, advocates, caregivers, volunteers or supporters, we’re stronger when we’re working together to fight this disease.

please consider continuing to support the Melanoma Network of Canada so that we can continue to connect patients like Chris and Cam, as well as provide important melanoma prevention and awareness across Canada.