Surviving Cholangiocarcinoma a bile duct cancer is a significant challenge within the cancer world. Melinda Bachini took it on with an amazing supporter community underpinned by willingness and persistence.
Patient and Persistent
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Melinda was diagnosed way back in 2009 and since then she has continued to step up and beyond the challenge to share her journey and inspire others to keep “Trying”.
Melinda’s story is a very good example of what can be done when it seems there are no options. Melinda was one of the very early CCA patients who was treated with Adoptive Cell Therapy. We all benefit from meeting and sharing with our fellow warriors, I hope you can gain something from Melinda’s story and her words.
Regards Steve
- LOCATION: Billings Montana USA
- DIAGNOSED: 2009 Intrahepatic – Progressed to Stage 4
- SURGERY: Liver Resection
- TREATMENT: Chemo, Adoptive Cell Therapy, Keytruda
Half the Liver
2009: A Large Tumour
Advocacy Coordinator, Billings, Montana
Melinda Bachini is an 12-year survivor of cholangiocarcinoma, was diagnosed in 2009 with Stage IV intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Her treatments have included: Liver resection, chemotherapy, clinical trial with Adoptive Cell Therapy, and pembrolizumab.
Melinda is married and the mother of six children, is passionate about patient advocacy. Her personal experience with the previous and current treatments allows for great insight to patients participating in clinical trials. Her function as moderator of the cholangiocarcinoma discussion board, allows Melinda to interact, support and educate others touched by this cancer. She shares her story with as many cancer patients as possible in hopes of giving courage to those in need. Melinda worked for twenty years in the Emergency Medical Field as an EMT, paramedic and field supervisor.
She has completed the Focus on Research program through Research Advocacy Network, ASCO patient advocacy training and Rare Disease Legislative Advocate webinar training through Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Melinda attended Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2016 representing cholangiocarcinoma patients, where she advocated for the 21st Century Cures Act. Melinda has been appointed patient advocate for the NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force which allows participation in the NCI Patient Advocate Steering Committee (PASC). Melinda attended the NCCS, CPAT Symposium and advocated on Capitol Hill. She attended the NCCN Policy Summit: Value Tools for Patients in Cancer Care. In January, she participated as a panelist in the Cancer Moonshot – Community Oncology Event at the White House, told her personal story and was introduced by her state Senator for the Innovation and Access in Quality Cancer Care at the US Capitol. She attended the AAADV Fundamentals Workshop, and most recently spoke with nine US Senators at NIH to share her personal story of how research has prolonged her life.
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Melinda Bachini is a 12-year survivor of cholangiocarcinoma, was diagnosed in 2009 with Stage IV intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Her treatments have included: Liver resection, chemotherapy, clinical trial with Adoptive Cell Therapy, and pembrolizumab.
Melinda is married and the mother of six children, is passionate about patient advocacy. Her personal experience with the previous and current treatments allows for great insight to patients participating in clinical trials. Her function as moderator of the cholangiocarcinoma discussion board, allows Melinda to interact, support and educate others touched by this cancer. She shares her story with as many cancer patients as possible in hopes of giving courage to those in need. Melinda worked for twenty years in the Emergency Medical Field as an EMT, paramedic and field supervisor.
She has completed the Focus on Research program through Research Advocacy Network, ASCO patient advocacy training and Rare Disease Legislative Advocate webinar training through Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Melinda attended Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2016 representing cholangiocarcinoma patients, where she advocated for the 21st Century Cures Act. Melinda has been appointed patient advocate for the NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force which allows participation in the NCI Patient Advocate Steering Committee (PASC). Melinda attended the NCCS, CPAT Symposium and advocated on Capitol Hill. She attended the NCCN Policy Summit: Value Tools for Patients in Cancer Care. In January, she participated as a panelist in the Cancer Moonshot – Community Oncology Event at the White House, told her personal story and was introduced by her state Senator for the Innovation and Access in Quality Cancer Care at the US Capitol. She attended the AAADV Fundamentals Workshop, and most recently spoke with nine US Senators at NIH to share her personal story
2016
2019
CCF Annual Conference
More on Melinda
ORIGINAL VIDEO
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