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Michelle AmeyBritish woman with aggressive skin cancer kept at bay for years by innovative drugs
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- The Initial Diagnosis
- A Grim Prognosis
- Experimental Treatment and a New Hope
- Subsequent Treatments and the Power of Hope
- Professor Ottenmaier's Expertise
- The Impact on Michelle's Family
- Supporting Cancer Research UK
Michelle: Mother of Two Survives Aggressive Skin Cancer for Eight Years
In 2010, Michelle, a 41-year-old mother of two from Dorset, received a devastating diagnosis of advanced skin cancer. Given just nine months to live, Michelle agreed to try an experimental drug, Vemurafenib. Thanks to this and subsequent breakthroughs in cancer treatment, Michelle's disease has been kept in check for eight years.
The Initial Diagnosis
In 2007, Michelle first noticed a pink mark with a black spot on her right thigh. It grew and started to bleed, prompting her to seek medical attention. A melanoma diagnosis followed, leading to a series of surgeries and treatments. But in 2010, Michelle's cancer spread to her brain and adrenal glands.
A Grim Prognosis
Doctors gathered Michelle's husband, Stuart, and told him to prepare for the worst. The cancer was aggressive, and the median survival time with brain metastases was just six weeks. With heavy hearts, Stuart kept the prognosis a secret from his wife.
Experimental Treatment and a New Hope
Stuart was determined to find hope for Michelle. He discovered Vemurafenib, a drug not yet approved in the UK but available through a clinical trial at the University of Southampton. Michelle agreed to try it, despite potential side effects. To Michelle's surprise, the drug worked wonders, shrinking her tumors.
Subsequent Treatments and the Power of Hope
In 2014, Vemurafenib stopped working, and Michelle's melanoma returned. She then started taking Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug. When that failed in 2016, she began a combination of Dabrafenib and Trametinib, which she continues to this day.
Michelle's cancer journey has been marked by hope and resilience. She has been supported by "Cancer Research UK" and is determined to continue fighting. "I will never give up hope," she says.
Professor Ottenmaier's Expertise
Professor Ottenmaier, Michelle's doctor at Southampton General Hospital, has been amazed by her progress. "My patient is one of the fortunate ones who have been kept alive by the development and introduction of new cancer treatments," he says. "The length of time she has survived is truly remarkable."
The Impact on Michelle's Family
Michelle's battle with cancer has had a profound impact on her family. Her sons have grown up with a mother who has constantly faced a life-threatening illness. But they have also witnessed her courage and determination.
Supporting Cancer Research UK
On February 4, 2018, World Cancer Day, Michelle will be supporting "Cancer Research UK" in gratitude for the life-saving drugs they fund. Their research and clinical trials have helped Michelle and countless others to live longer and better with cancer.
