The first thing you do when you find out you have cancer is Google the statistics.
Its a huge mistake, especially if, like me, you have metastatic melanoma.
The longest survival rate I could find was six months, so I quit looking.
He was worried, so he made a dermatologist appointment for me.
When a biopsy turned up stage IV melanoma, I was devastated.
At Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, I started my first treatment Interleukin-2.
I was hospitalized for a week at a time for treatment.
After 26 infusions, I was weak and felt terrible but quickly recovered.
I needed to get on a drug that causedallmy tumors to respond.
Soon after, doctors started me on a clinical trial of a different immunotherapya PD-1 inhibitor.
It was not easy, but I felt that it would be worth it if the treatment worked.
I did have some setbacks, though.
My doctors were able to remove the tumor, and I started back on the PD-1 inhibitor.
I slowly regained my strength and was able to walk again.
Then my white blood cell count started to rise, and I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
By this point, my husband and I were less fazed by bad news.
I was more worried about having to go off the immunotherapy trial than about getting the new cancer diagnosis.
But I moved forward and relied more than ever on faith.
I now take an oral targeted therapy drug twice a day, and that keeps my leukemia stable.
Since February 2013, Ive been in remission for both cancers.
I no longer have symptoms or side effects, and I know how fortunate I am to be here.
I think that cancer has made me less judgmental.
But my experience made me realize that you dont always know what people are going through.
Now that Im healthy again, I know that cancer has made our family stronger.
My kids are more resilient and have learned to adapt better to change.
When the house floods or the car breaks down, it seems small compared to cancer.
This has shown me whats truly important in life.
Kimberly Jessop, 38, is a pediatric physical therapist in Germantown, Tennessee.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kimberly Jessop
