Robin’s Zest for Life Helped Him Overcome Stage 4 Melanoma
Robin, an architect born and raised in France and now based in the USA, shares his experience with stage 4 melanoma. In 2023, he discovered a tiny bump on his chest. He showed it to his dermatologist, who thought it was just a cyst. After closer inspection, the doctors discovered that the bump was actually melanoma and it had already metastasised to Robin’s liver.
Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Chris Sanchez
Robin was overwhelmed, confused, and numb all at once, but he refused to cave in. He didn’t isolate himself; instead, he looked for the right support. He understood that facing such a situation would be easier with a strong community behind him.
Robin found that the hardest things for him to face weren’t the treatments for stage 4 melanoma (which is a type of skin cancer), but the weeks of uncertainty before he was fully diagnosed and could receive proper treatment. This uncertainty left him struggling to maintain his footing. However, the moment that his oncologist introduced the option of a clinical trial, his fear, anxiety, and numbness faded, and his perspective shifted for the better.
Robin passionately advocated for himself. He emphasized the power of making informed decisions. He dove headfirst into understanding the trial and kept asking questions so he could regain control over his health.
Under the clinical trial, Robin’s treatment included three months of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, followed by 18 months of immunotherapy maintenance. He’d read about all the potential side effects in the clinical trial booklets and braced himself for a rough experience. Happily, the side effects he ended up experiencing turned out to be minimal.
His positive mindset bolstered his psychological well-being. Instead of viewing his treatment days with fear and dread, Robin approached them like regular activities, for instance, like going to the office or visiting friends. This made a significant difference in his healthcare.
Throughout his stage 4 melanoma experience, Robin kept up his active lifestyle. He continued working, traveling, and spending quality time with his loved ones. His zest for life and people gave him strength, and he stayed true to himself even in the thick of his health challenges.
Today, Robin is thriving. His recent scans show no signs of tumors or metastasis. He looks forward to having regular check-ups every six months for the next five years, then annually.
Watch Robin’s video and:
- Discover how his love for life helped him through stage 4 melanoma.
- Learn how a little bump changed his life, but couldn’t dampen his spirit.
- Discover the moment Robin’s fear turned into fearless patient advocacy.
- Find out the unexpected reason he found joy in hospital visits.
- Learn why Robin views clinical trials with gratitude, not fear.
- Name:
- Robin A.
- Diagnosis:
- Melanoma
- Staging:
- Stage 4
- Symptom:
- Appearance of a small bump on the chest
- Treatments:
- Chemotherapy and immunotherapy (under a clinical trial)
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make informed treatment decisions.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of The Patient Story.
Inspired by Robin's story?
Share your story, too!
More Melanoma Stories
Brittanny G., Skin Cancer (Melanoma), Stage 3A
Symptoms: Mole that enlarged, changed shape, and became dry, patchy, and flaky, fatigue
Treatments: Surgeries (wide local excision, lymphadenectomy), immunotherapy
...
Teresa B., Recurrent Breast Cancer (Hormone-Positive), Oral Cancer (Lip Cancer), and Skin Cancer (Melanoma)
Symptoms: Lip cancer: chapped lips & a pimple-like growth on lip, breast cancer: enlarged left breast with lump, melanoma: none
Treatments: Surgeries (bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, lumpectomy, craniotomy, Mohs, surgery, wide local excision), hormone therapy, radiation therapy
...
Jennifer M., Melanoma, Stage 4 (Metastatic)
Symptom: Persistent cough, body and chest aches and pains, night sweats, fatigue
Treatments: Immunotherapy, surgeries (lung resection, pericardiectomy)
...
Cheyenne E., Melanoma, Stage 3B
Symptom: Itchy mole on her back that changed in appearance
Treatments: Surgeries (wide local excision, sentinel lymph node biopsy, lymph node removal), immunotherapy
...
Robin A., Melanoma, Stage 4
Symptom: Appearance of a small bump on the chest
Treatments: Chemotherapy and immunotherapy (under a clinical trial)
...
Megan S., Melanoma, Recurrent (Stage 1A & Stage 4)
Symptoms: New mole, cough, wheezing, chest pain, back pain
Treatments: Surgeries (mole excision, reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery), immunotherapy, targeted therapy (BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors), radiation therapy
...