I WILL Beat Metastatic Ovarian Cancer!

If you’re reading this I want to thank you for taking time to think about my wife and I and wish us well. The support, encouragement and positivity during these last 15 months have pushed us through some hard stuff. Despite much hesitation, even now as I’m writing this, Maryam and I have been encouraged to set up a ”registry” of sorts to allow people to continue to support us in different ways. As many of you know, I was diagnosed with Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer in July 2023, right after my 39th birthday. I underwent surgery to remove the tumors on both ovaries and the cancer cells floating in my peritoneal cavity followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. My oncologist declared no evidence of disease in December 2023. In August 2024 my CT scan showed metastatic ovarian cancer in my subcarinal lymph node, (which is surrounded by my lungs, esophagus, and great vessels), and subsequently confirmed on a biopsy a few weeks later. My type of ovarian cancer doesn’t typically respond well to chemotherapy and we knew recurrence was likely but we were devastated and shocked that it had not only come back this fast but also metastasized to a distant location in my body. We immediately sought a second opinion for treatment as well as any available clinical trials. I continue to seek eligibility for clinical trials, however, at this time I’m not eligible for any. The good news is my PET scan did not show the cancer anywhere else in my body at this time. We know there are likely ovarian cancer stem cells floating in my blood or lymph nodes that may need to be treated later and we are extremely happy the cancer is localized at this time which makes me eligible for high-dose, targeted, radiation therapy. On Oct 24, I will start my first radiation treatment at MD Anderson in Houston, TX. After consultations with several physicians and much discussion, Maryam and I felt based on expertise of the treatment team and # of cases treated for my specific cancer, MD Anderson would give me the best outcome with a longer remission time (and I’m going to add - CURE)!!! We appreciate whatever you can do to support us during this time. IF YOU NEED OUR ADDRESS please text us (404-226-0900) as we will be staying at 3 different places during our time in Houston. Love & Liberation + Fuck Cancer, Melissa & Maryam Mars & Memphis