Melanoma in particular heads to the brain often and is difficult to treat. 10-15 years ago, it was a death sentence. Today, 60-70% of qualified patients will survive 5 years or more thanks to immunotherapy. A chunk of the 30-40% are folks who have difficulty tolerating the therapy, have poor response, or other complications. In my wife’s case, complications from brain surgery delayed treatment and the combo of mets and immunotherapy response created a bad situation.

Today, about 50% of melanoma tumors have a BRAF mutation, and a medication that can delay growth and buy patients time to get better in order to get treatment. In my wife’s case, that wasn’t an option.

COVID demonstrated that these vaccines bend the death curve, reduce severity and offer positive immune response. If that were available early this year, the chances are my wife would be alive, finishing her second course of immunotherapy.

I'd be curious to read more about long-term immunity issues if you have some links?

Moderna's research pipeline has been full of cancer medications, which seem to be very promising.