Martha Bishop

Martha Bishop was diagnosed with melanoma in 2009 at age 29 after visiting a dermatologist about changes to a mole on her lower back. After first being told it was nothing, and electing to have it removed, the dermatologist called two days later to let Martha know that it was melanoma. The dermatologist had no treatment recommendations, and Martha began doing her own research, which led her to the Skin Cancer Institute at Arizona Cancer Center for further surgery and treatment. The last several years have been a journey of ups and downs for Martha, as she’s been through several types of treatment, discovered additional tumors and metastases and, finally, ended up on a clinical trial for the anti-PD1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), beginning in April of 2013. Martha’s melanoma has been stable for over a year.

Martha married a guy she met on the Internet before that type of thing was cool. They have two children, Joseph and Abigail, who are 10 and 8. After being a stay-at-home mom for the past 10 years, she has recently returned to the workforce as a substitute teacher. Martha is active in melanoma communities nationally and locally in Tucson, Arizona. She is passionate about research and advocating for other cancer patients as well as occasionally working as a doula.She logs about her life and cancer journey at http://melanomas.bishless.com.