Why Choose Fox Chase? »Success Stories »Squamous Cell Cancer

Melanoma

For many years, Kelly Pearsall tried to get pregnant but was unsuccessful. Then, at the age of 38, she lost her father to cancer. Not long after, Kelly learned she was pregnant. "The timing was crazy," she recalled. "It was miraculous - as if my dad were watching over me." A couple of years later, when Kelly turned 40, she had her second daughter. Kelly felt very fortunate and had found true happiness in motherhood. Then, in January 2009, her life was turned upside down when she was told she had months to live.

"I believe in listening to your body."

"I had a pain in my neck that would not go away," shared Kelly. She underwent several tests, was coughing through the night and spitting up blood. "We thought my symptoms might have been caused by our wood burning stove." A bronchoscopy was finally performed, which allowed doctors to identify the cause of her symptoms.

Kelly had a 3.2 ml stage IV tumor on her right side between her top and middle lobe of her lung. She was diagnosed with melanoma that had metastasized to her lung. Melanoma is a rare type of cancer that often occurs on the skin first and then invades the organs. "While I was going through all of those tests, it never crossed my mind that I had cancer."

At her local hospital, Kelly was given little hope for a cure.

Because her disease had progressed, Kelly was advised to "get her things in order." She shared, "You can never imagine the feeling that went through me that day. I was devastated. My feet went out from underneath me. I wondered how I was going to tell my precious little girls who were only 7 and 9." Kelly wished she was having a bad dream.

Her best friend offered to shave her hair if Kelly was going to lose hers to chemotherapy. "Unfortunately, I was told there was no treatment for this type of cancer, so losing my hair was the least of my concerns."

"I had nothing to lose and so much to gain by calling Fox Chase."

At her local hospital, Kelly was offered an investigative drug to attempt to shrink the tumor. She was also told that surgery was not an option. Kelly was desperate for answers, so in January 2009, she decided to get a second opinion. "I remembered seeing commercials for Fox Chase Cancer Center. For some reason, they stuck in my mind," shared Kelly. "I had nothing to lose and so much to gain by calling Fox Chase. Everyone there lives and breathes cancer 24/7."

"Dr. Lebenthal took the time to get to know me and learn about my children."

Kelly made an appointment with Dr. Avi Lebenthal, a surgeon at Fox Chase who specializes in complex tumors in the thoracic region. "Dr. Lebenthal could tell that I was terrified. I liked that he was upfront about my disease and explained the procedure and how long it should take. His positive attitude started to rub off on me."

"Dr. Lebenthal saved my world and is my true hero."

"I was looking for a hero to save the day and that is exactly what I found at Fox Chase," Kelly explained. "Dr. Lebenthal saved my world and is my true hero. He studied my scans and, with confidence, he promised to go after the cancer. He admitted it could take some time, but was prepared to treat me." Kelly's surgery took place on February 19, 2009 and she is cancer-free today.

"When I walk through the doors at Fox Chase, the aura is incredible. People are only there for one reason - cancer," shared Kelly. "Every employee, doctor and nurse is there because they want to be there - it's more than a job. Dr. Lebenthal is an incredibly determined doctor. He will not give up until he tries everything possible. He even checked in on me in the hospital on his day off!"

After recovering during the summer of 2009, Kelly started working as a substitute teacher in the district where her daughters attend school. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys camping and hiking with her family. She believes Fox Chase offers special care that she has not experienced elsewhere.

"I can't thank Dr. Lebenthal enough for giving me my life back."

"At Fox Chase, everyone's energy connects and people pull for each other. It is such an incredible feeling when you walk through those doors. I can't thank Dr. Lebenthal enough for giving me my life back."

Learn more about treatment for melanoma skin cancer at Fox Chase Cancer Center.