Supporting the CCTG Melanoma Committee Resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba | CCTG Patient Representative since 2024“I understand that in a clinical trial, a patient is monitored carefully to observe side effects and ensure that as good a quality of life as possible is maintained while on the treatment. I believe that this will lead to fewer life-altering side effects and lessen the impact of the treatments. Becoming involved in clinical trials is a cancer patient’s way of having some control over their treatment and is rewarding knowing that they are helping improve not only their own situation, but also to help future cancer patients.”For Sally, who has had several family members with lived cancer experiences and survivorship, cancer wasn’t a scary word. Therefore, in September 2021 when her oncologist called to tell her the mole on my leg was malignant melanoma, she knew she would be fine. Skilled surgeons removed the tumour and affected lymph nodes and then underwent immunotherapy treatments, which had only been approved in recent years for Stage III melanoma.“During my second hospital stay for toxicities that I experienced, I had a very clear thought that the reason I had survived was to help “these young doctors” learn about how treatments affect their patients. At the time I had not a clue as to what this meant. As I have learned about advances such as Precision Oncology, I know the importance of clinical trials to make this a reality.”Sally Nystrom is a Red River Métis citizen, who has been an active patient advocate to encourage others who are living with cancer and help them to understand what is available for them. She started her advocacy with CancerCare Manitoba, and became aware that some Canadians, including rural and Indigenous peoples have experienced inequities in the health care system.She hopes to add her voice to the development of cancer clinical trials where she can help with improvements in treatments that will lead to better quality of life, fewer side effects, and improved survivorship.
