Amy Holycross

In October of 2008, Amy Holycross, age 27, noticed some changes in size and shape of a mole on her back. After seeking medical attention, a biopsy had confirmed malignant melanoma.

Amy, a busy mother of 3 young boys, had surgery to remove the melanoma which had already spread to her lymphnodes. She then went through 5 months of intense chemotherapy followed by one month of radiation therapy. A follow-up CT scan showed new lesions to her lungs and she then received Temodar, an oral chemotherapy.

Despite 4 months of Temodar, her disease continued to progress. In June 2010, Beth O'Brien, clinical research nurse here at the Springfield Regional Cancer Center, enrolled Amy into a new breakthrough clinical trial involving the use of BRAF inhibitors for metastatic melanoma in Nashville Tennessee. After 2 months of treatment, a PET scan showed her disease was responding well to the chemotherapy. Amy continues to receive chemotherapy every 3 weeks and her latest scans show she continues to show improvement of her disease.

Amy states, "I feel very fortunate to be able to help people in the future by being on this clinical trial, as well as having an effective treatment for my cancer."