Chris White
That feeling when you know what you want, but not sure how to get it. Freedom of Time or finances. If you have a will there is a way. I know because my existence is proof and I can show you.
As a young professional given a Terminal Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis that 1000 people/year in the U.S. A Rare Sub-type of Melanoma that is not caused by the sun or UV Rays, this deadly disease makes up about 1% of all Melanoma and has no known cause, effective standard of care, or any means of prevention. It forms in mucous membranes and is known to quickly metastasize because initial symptoms are often mistaken for non-medical emergencies. While working full-time and in and out of disability, I fought with every known therapy/treatment that existed along with fighting the near death side effects. Attempted treatments included 3+ major surgeries, targeted radiation to the rectum, kidneys, lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and my brain. 2 single immunotherapy treatments of Keytruda, and and 6 combination treatments of Opdivo+Yervoy immunotherapies. Chemotherapies consisted of three cycles of three separate chemos known as CVD and also two cycles of a chemotherapy called a Abraxane. Most of these treatments overlapped each other, and I nearly died from the side effect of Colitis. Additional side effects from treatments I received are hypothyroidism, uveitis, conjunctivitis, which also caused and gave me cataracts. With no ammo left in the arsenal, I was lucky enough to get into a clinical trial known as TIL Therapy. This Autologous Cell Therapy uses the exact mutated cell, multiplied into the billions and given them back to the patient as new cells for a massive army to take over after the bodies immune system is depleted to zero as a blank slate. An historic treatment unlike an other, is near FDA approval. I was the very last person to be dosed in this specific trial, but not before getting kicked out due to a brain tumor found on a scan at the last minute. Told to consider hospice and settle my affairs, I had to advocate for insurance approval for treatment to stabilize my brain for the opportunity re enter the trial for a rare chance. My self-advocation paid off and i was readmitted at the very last moment. After completing the process and my hospital stay in, January 2020, I returned to work full-time, recovering during the height of COVID 19 pandemic. My passion to live and defy the odds has evolved into career change as a professional advocate and inspirational speaker. As a voice to the patient population to provide hope, and an example to the bio pharmaceutical and clinical community that their efforts and hard work are appreciated. TIL Therapy does more than just saving lives, it is preserving them and quality of life. I am a living example of this.
As a young professional given a Terminal Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis that 1000 people/year in the U.S. A Rare Sub-type of Melanoma that is not caused by the sun or UV Rays, this deadly disease makes up about 1% of all Melanoma and has no known cause, effective standard of care, or any means of prevention. It forms in mucous membranes and is known to quickly metastasize because initial symptoms are often mistaken for non-medical emergencies. While working full-time and in and out of disability, I fought with every known therapy/treatment that existed along with fighting the near death side effects. Attempted treatments included 3+ major surgeries, targeted radiation to the rectum, kidneys, lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and my brain. 2 single immunotherapy treatments of Keytruda, and and 6 combination treatments of Opdivo+Yervoy immunotherapies. Chemotherapies consisted of three cycles of three separate chemos known as CVD and also two cycles of a chemotherapy called a Abraxane. Most of these treatments overlapped each other, and I nearly died from the side effect of Colitis. Additional side effects from treatments I received are hypothyroidism, uveitis, conjunctivitis, which also caused and gave me cataracts. With no ammo left in the arsenal, I was lucky enough to get into a clinical trial known as TIL Therapy. This Autologous Cell Therapy uses the exact mutated cell, multiplied into the billions and given them back to the patient as new cells for a massive army to take over after the bodies immune system is depleted to zero as a blank slate. An historic treatment unlike an other, is near FDA approval. I was the very last person to be dosed in this specific trial, but not before getting kicked out due to a brain tumor found on a scan at the last minute. Told to consider hospice and settle my affairs, I had to advocate for insurance approval for treatment to stabilize my brain for the opportunity re enter the trial for a rare chance. My self-advocation paid off and i was readmitted at the very last moment. After completing the process and my hospital stay in, January 2020, I returned to work full-time, recovering during the height of COVID 19 pandemic. My passion to live and defy the odds has evolved into career change as a professional advocate and inspirational speaker. As a voice to the patient population to provide hope, and an example to the bio pharmaceutical and clinical community that their efforts and hard work are appreciated. TIL Therapy does more than just saving lives, it is preserving them and quality of life. I am a living example of this.
