Gleevec Pioneer Mel Mann's 25 Year Survival Story
Today Gleevec is an incredibly common cancer treatment. But like every drug on the market, it went through clinical trials more than two decades ago. Our guest today, Mel Mann, was the second person to receive the drug, back in 1998. And it saved his life.
Mel was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, (CML) in 1995 and was given three years to live. At the time, a bone marrow transplant was the only option. The registry had far less people on it than today, particularly people of color. At the time, only 1% of black patients could find a match. So Mel, an Army Major at the time, did what he did best--with boots on the ground, he started organizing bone marrow drives - everywhere. And he enlisted his incredible friends to do the same.
And while Mel didn't find a match, it was a chance meeting at a relative's drive that would change his life forever. He takes us through the series of events that introduced him to a clinical trial for Gleevec, and just in time. He ended up not needing a transplant. Mel is proud to say he not only got to see his daughter, five years-old when Mel was diagnosed, grow up but she has also become a doctor.
We spend some time with Mel talking about clinical trials, and how important, even life-saving they can be. As a patient, you truly need to be your own best advocate and Mel will show you the way.
More:
US Clinical Trials Website: https://clinicaltrials.gov/
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.
nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/
nbmtLINK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINK
nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.
Thank you to this season's sponsors:
Omeros Corporation: https://www.omeros.com/
Incyte: https://www.incyte.com/
