I Was Given Four Months To Live…More Than Three Years Ago

Jules B. Rauch, III, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in 2004. Since then, his cancer has come and gone – but always came back with a vengeance. In 2010, he was told he had four months to live, but a clinical trial at the Abramson Cancer Center gave him hope to find his cure within.

My health challenges began in 2004 at the age of 67. I was being treated for prostate cancer in Florida, and the nurse recommended I have the small, deep red spot on my forehead checked out.

I did, and the diagnosis was stage 4 melanoma.

I had the spot removed just before Christmas of that year. Four years later, two small lumps appeared in front of my left ear. A biopsy and full body CT/PET scan confirmed the melanoma had returned and that year on November 11, 2008, I had a left parotidectomy and 26 lymph nodes were removed in the process. Thirty-three radiation treatments later, and I was back on the road to recovery.

Unfortunately, in July 2009, another scan showed the cancer had returned – this time, it had spread to the left parotid area and a re-excision was required. Also, it had spread to my right shoulder - and this was radiated (no surgery). Nine months later, the cancer had moved again into my back, which was also radiated.

Despite all of my medical treatments and issues, I never stopped fishing, golfing and exercising my Labrador Retriever. Of course, my medical treatments were serious, but I never wanted them to interfere with my lifestyle. My wife, Beverly, and I maintained our schedule of spending 4 to 5 months in Cape May, and the rest of the year in Florida.

I wasn’t going to give in.

But when a scan in June 2010 showed metastatic melanoma – and it spread to my right shoulder, more in my backbone and both lungs, I was given four months to live. My only option was to quickly get into a clinical trial with a drug called Ipilimumab. We were in Cape May, and I was referred to the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Days later, I found myself in the office of Lynn Schuchter, MD, chief of the division of hematology/oncology. I told her, “I’m not ready to die,” and hoped to be included in her trial. I was accepted, and began the course of treatment – four infusions, one hour each for four weeks.

That October, only a few months later, another CT/PET scan revealed all the cancer was gone.

It was like being reborn. I had another opportunity on life.

No Cancer Has Returned

Since then, in these past three years, all of screenings are negative and show no cancer has returned. None. Dr. Schuchter tells me I’m her “poster boy” for clinical trials and at 76 years old, I could not be more proud to have her as my doctor.

The gratitude, appreciation and outstanding medical and emotional care I’ve received at the Abramson Cancer Center from Dr. Schuchter, and her team cannot be put into words. Their professionalism and generosity has given me and many others the opportunity of life.

Of course, nothing could have been possible without the support of my wife and caregiver, Beverly, and our supporting friends and family. Together with the Abramson Cancer Center, their faith and prayers helped me in my positive fight against cancer.

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