Melinda Bachini

Billings, MT
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: In April 2012, I walked into the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as Patient 3737. While not being called by my name may be impersonal, this number was a lifeline. It represented my place in a clinical trial—my last chance after standard treatments had failed. Sixteen years later, I am still here, enjoying my life as a mother, wife, grandmother, and patient advocate. I am alive today because of scientific advancements. I wasn’t really taking a chance; I was doing what I believed was the logical next step in the face of this insurmountable challenge. Cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, is a brutal disease. It is often discovered only when it’s stage IV, and treatments are difficult to provide effectively. By the time I was diagnosed, the tumor in my liver was so large that it covered the right lobe. Initial surgery gave me a little precious time, but the cancer spread to my lungs, and chemotherapy was not proving to be a long-term solution. By 2012, my tumors were growing aggressively, and I could barely climb a few stairs without becoming breathless. It was during one sleepless night after paying medical bills that my online search led me to a clinical trial for “tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy” led by Dr. Steven Rosenberg and his team at NCI. I applied – what did I have to lose? The process was daunting, but the cancer was worse. It involved sequencing my tumor to find immune cells that could attack the cancer. Those cells were extracted, multiplied in a lab, and reinfused into my body. The treatment was cutting-edge and not yet proven for cholangiocarcinoma. I was willing to try. By the Grace of God and the brilliance of scientists and researchers, I am here today to share my story. At the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, where I am now Chief Patient Officer, we believe in the power of advocacy and education. My journey from Patient 3737 to survivor to advocate is a testament to what’s possible when patients and scientists work together, leading the way in groundbreaking discoveries because no one should ever be just a number. And because every number has the potential to become a story of survival, like mine.