Kavanagh & Kimmtrack

 

Hi my name is Christine Kavanagh and I have Metastatic Uveal Melanoma.

My journey began in June of 2004, during a routine visit to my doctor for treatment of pink eye and floaters/flashes in my eyes. I was referred to a retina specialist and I was diagnosed with a very rare form of melanoma in the eye – 6 out of 1 million people are diagnosed yearly. My first thought was Melanoma in the eye….how could that be? I had never heard of anyone with melanoma in the eye. I thought that melanoma was skin cancer. I could not believe something like this would be happening to me. Leaving the doctor’s office my world literally had just been turned upside down. I was feeling alone, scared and lost. What was I going to do? All I could think about were my husband and two young boys who at the time were only 2 and 5 years old.

In July 2004, I was referred to an oncologist. There are very few doctors who treat and specialize in this type of rare melanoma. I was given two options for treatment – remove my eye or have radiotherapy seeds implanted. I opted for the radiotherapy seed treatment in hopes of saving my eyesight instead of completely removing my eye as that would have been much more traumatizing for me. After the seed implantation, I was being scanned every three months. I continued with my life the best I could yet always asking what if or wondering what the next scan would show. For 12 years things were ok until 2016, my scan showed the melanoma had metastasized to my lung. I never would have thought after 12 years I would hear those words metastasized to my lung. It was completely devastating, and once again my world was falling apart. How could this be happening…how could the melanoma spread to my lung? I had the nodule in my lung removed in September of 2016. After surgery, the doctors felt I did not require any additional treatment all I had to do was continue with scans every three months. I had some uncertainty but felt a little relief that the tumor had been completely removed. Once again, trying to go about my life as usual but always living with the fear and wondering what the next scan would show. Always praying that the melanoma does not return.

In May 2019, after a routine scan, they found multiple nodules on my lung. I could not believe what I was hearing. The cancer was back…three times now. I felt like I was doomed…questioning everything…why me, why do I have to go through this again, do I have the strength to fight this cancer again and how do I tell my family the cancer was back.

I started immunotherapy treatment in August 2019. I went every four weeks for three months. Frist on Opdivo and Yervoy and then switched to Nivolumab and continuing scans every three months.

In December 2021, after a routine scan, they found more nodules now in my Liver. Liver biopsy confirmed the Melanoma had spread. AGAIN, the Melanoma had returned for a fourth time. Total disbelief for me. Two months later, I was offered a clinical trial and started Tebentafusp infusions one time per week. I knew I had to go into the clinical trial even though there were a lot of unknowns, I had to give it a shot as this was the first treatment that was being trialed to improve overall survival in Metastatic Uvela Melanoma. I was willing to try anything at this point. In January of 2022, this treatment was approved by the FDA. Since December 2021, my scan results have been good. I hope this drug will continue to keep my melanoma at bay.

Although I have had multiple setbacks over the years, I continue daily to fight this melanoma battle with the love and support of my husband Moe, my two boys Michael and Ryan, family and close friends. I could not do this without any of them. I am so grateful that I have been able to watch my boys grow into wonderful young men who are now 24 and 21 years old. Even though I have many days where I struggle, I still cherish every day. I am incredibly thankful for my family, friends, doctors and staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

I will continue to fight for myself and for all those who are living with melanoma by spreading awareness and educating people about this serious disease.

This year, I am participating in a Steps to Stop Skin Cancer Walk to spread awareness and increase funding for education and research to find a cure for Melanoma. Please help me in supporting this cause which is personal and important to me by either joining me for the walk or donating to the cause.

Thank you for your support.

Christine

 

Team Captain: Christine Kavanagh

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