CAROLE MALONEY

Stage:Stage IV

My melanoma story began with my nightly routine of applying moisturizer to my face with fingers on each side, noticing a small lump past my right cheek very close to my right ear. I had this lump for two weeks, so my primary care physician ordered a fine needle biopsy, this was in October 2011. I was working full time in my career for a large defense corporation, I took a lunch break to go check out the results of the biopsy, not what I expected at all, I still have the little white paper that says “melanoma, metastatic to right parotid node, undetermined site of origin, need to see dermatologist, imaging study.” I was alone, I never returned to work, I drove home and thankfully my son was there to take immediate care of me. My life was about to change completely with this diagnosis.

My treatment is at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA where in November 2011 I had a parotidectomy and the removal of 22 lymph nodes which was done in a seven hour surgery by a Head and Neck Surgeon who was amazingly capable. After recovery, came 25 days of radiation, Monday through Friday, at Dana Farber. Chemotherapy was the next step, my family and I chose Interferon, which is a 12-month treatment. Interferon is a very strong drug with many side effects, the first month are Monday through Friday infusions at Dana Farber and the remaining eleven months are self injections three days a week at home. It is a grueling schedule, and the drug is a tough one to get along with. It also suppresses your immune system so you are always at risk of infections or illnesses that may come your way. I was hospitalized twice, the second one causing me to stop the treatment completely at the ten month mark.

Because my melanoma has metastasized, I am now stage IV. I am currently enrolled in a clinical trial at Dana Farber. The trial is a combination of the new immunotherapy drug, Opdivo, and a personalized vaccine. The vaccine includes my own blood, which has been infused with good cells and not-so-good cells taken out. It was a series of 7 vaccines over 3 months at 3 injection sites. I continue to have Opdivo infusions every two weeks, which includes bloodwork and oncology doctor appointments that prove whether or not I qualify for the infusion that day. I have completed one year and the trial has been extended for a second year. Part of the trial is scans and MRIs every 3 months. So far, I am getting good results from the trial: the tumor is getting smaller in size. I am still under the care of a Head and Neck Surgeon and dermatologist, and I continue to a take advantage of the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies.

The next best thing to Dana Farber is my family, my husband, children and their spouses, four grandchildren and many friends who have given me so much help and support and continue to do so everyday.

Because my primary site is not diagnosed, my risk of melanoma recurrence is great, so my family and I are thankful that I continue to be a patient at Dana Farber. I am involved with IMPACT Melanoma’s Billy’s Buddies Program mentoring patients with melanoma. I have received so much help and support and it feels good to help someone else in this way.