Kitty's birthday fundraising efforts for the Cure OM team with Melanoma Research Foundation!
As many of you know, I was diagnosed in August 2019, with a rare subtype of Melanoma called Ocular Melanoma (OM). I was treated with surgeries and radiation to my eye in Sept 2019 in Denver. The primary tumor in my right eye is behaving itself and is "well regressed," thankfully. I undergo scans every 6 months to check liver and lungs to make sure there is no distant spread. So far, I am extremely grateful that I am doing well with no evidence of metastasis. Unfortunately, there is no chemotherapy that is known to be effective in preventing microscopic cells from some day deciding to pounce. However, advances are slowly being made and studies are underway. The OM community is very hopeful that a treatment will be found for primary OM that can help reduce the 50% rate of recurrence many patients will have even up to years later.
This year, I am attending an OM symposium in Boston in early May and am participating in Miles for Melanoma benefiting the Melanoma Research Foundation. May is also my birth month and if you normally get me a gift for my birthday, please don't. I ask that you consider a small donation to this cause instead. I am not good at fundraising so if you choose not to donate, please know I am grateful for your support and care and I am so thankful for your support in whatever way that occurs.
There is more to be done and a long way to go, but the finish line is in sight.
Your donation to Miles for Melanoma would be appreciated beyond words.
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