Welcome to Mucosal Melanoma Survivor

In the spring of 2021, I felt like I was hit from a lightning bolt. The more I continued to talk and share about my cancer experience, the more I realized how rare and inspiring it was, I could feel the impact of it in my core. I could see the importance of what it meant to patients, caregivers, and the different cancer communities abroad including those within the industry. Being a advocate and sharing my experiences part time or on the side was never going to cut it. It dawned on me that being a full-time speaker could be a career and so the challenge began, how do I get my start? There was no blueprint or anyone "taking me under their wing". Everywhere I looked or asked had the same answer which was, "I'm going to have to figure it out." Well, for every niche there is a audience, and with that I'll say, I found my audience.

When I first decided that I wanted to write a book about my story, I reached out to a local publisher in late July of 2022 to inquire about doing so. I had a 15-minute meeting with the CEO and founder of the publisher to discuss the opportunity to work together. I was told at this 15-minute phone call meeting that due to the subject matter surrounding a extremely rare type of cancer of my story as well as the therapy of which was not well known, they did not think it would sell and therefore declined to partner. I was told that if the subbject matter was more familiar such as "Breast Cancer", then that would sell and be different. Our conversation did not last long enough for me to explain that the 1-time treatment that saved my life is also available for other  solid tumors which includes breast cancer and that 90% of all cancers are solid tumors. We did not get to the part that there are currently has clinical trials ongoing for this and it will also be a approved therapy some day.

I went the Self-Publishing route and did so in March of 2024 with

"Killing Cancer with TILs"

Available for order on Amazon 

TIL Talks is dedicated to educating and bringing awareness to TILs and ALL Advanced CELL & GENE Therapies. Aimed to reach ALL demographics, ages, and on multiple platforms, this program provides direct one-on-one conversations with patient recipients, caregivers, and industry leaders who have borne witness to the curative abilities of these novel modalities 1st hand. No matter what the diagnoses of a patient, the goal is always to eradicate and rid the cancer or disease while also preserving quality of life. Problem is that most people don't know to ask because they don't know they exist. 

In 2018 I was diagnosed with a terminal disease and given a very grim prognosis, I was terrifying. I learned that the 5 years survival rate was less than 14% of those diagnosed. As scared as I was, the way I saw it was that there was still a chance and as long as that exists, then someone has to be that 14% and therefore that someone could be me. I remember telling myself that WHEN, not if but WHEN, I defeated this terminal disease and became a part of that 14%, I would give back and pay it forward somehow, someway and provide more knowledge, resources, and testimonials then I had. 

As I started engaging more and more into advocacy toward the end of 2022, I entered a whole new world and found a sense of community that was more therapeutic than therapy itself.  Attending in person conferences, summits, and symposia events has given me a way to connect, share, learn about the latest and greatest in all the advancements being made. I have become a sponge for cancer, rare diseases, clinical trials, and Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies and sharing what I've learn is how I pay it forward.

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From guest blog publications, podcast appearances, and sharing resources relating to my experience, I do this full-time. Surviving cancer will change a person and it has changed me.  

Diagnosed in July of 2018 and released from the hospital in January of 2020, it wasn't until the 2nd half of 2022 that I really started being very vocal about my experience. Since then I have been featured in almost 2 dozen + Guest Blogs, Podcasts, & Webinars with others. 

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This section will answer some of the most frequently asked questions I receive regarding Anorectal Mucosal Melanoma. This is not an all-inclusive list but the most frequently asked.  As a reminder, I am only an expert on my story & my experience. 

-ARM: Anorectal Mucosal Melanoma

Coming soon…

 -TIL Therapy: Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Coming Soon…

 -Clinical Trials and Advanced Cell Therapies

Coming Soon….