In 2012, when Tobi’s stage IV metastatic melanoma stopped responding to a normal course of treatment her doctors gave her 6 months to live. The cancer had metastasized to her bones resulting in excruciating pain, and she felt ready to give up. But after months of searching, her family found a clinical trial she could enroll in for a new drug.
Tobi and her doctors were amazed when the treatment seemed to work immediately. A painful lesion on her chest shrunk after one treatment. Tobi was on the medication for about four years until October of 2017 when she no longer had any signs of disease.
Three years later, she remains cancer free and is starting to resume a normal life, including being able to once again enjoy running. And this May, she saw her daughter graduate from Indiana University, something she doubts would have happened without her access to the clinical trial.
Tobi knows without a doubt that the clinical trial saved her life and she feels lucky to have had health insurance that allowed her to participate. “I owe my life to that trial and am passionate that those who need access to clinical trials are not denied based on their type of insurance.”
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