Woman With Advanced Melanoma Finds New Purpose in Giving Back

Jennifer Frederick doesn’t just talk about a positive attitude; she lives it every day. She believes it’s the first step in battling her cancer. Her motto explains it well. “I have cancer, but cancer doesn’t have me.”

In 2023, Jennifer, an active 49-year-old, says she was in the best shape of her life. When she felt a small lump in her groin – about the size of a gumball – she wasn’t concerned. She thought it was a muscle pulled from exercising on a treadmill.

“I had zero symptoms,” she says. After a couple months, the lump started to grow, so she saw a dermatologist followed by a general surgeon.

An ultrasound showed enlarged lymph nodes in her leg radiating from the lump in her groin, Jennifer remembers. Her surgeon acted quickly to remove the lump and lymph nodes in December 2023.

After examining the tissue sample, a pathologist diagnosed the lump as melanoma, the most invasive type of skin cancer. It grows quickly and has the ability to spread to any organ. About 30% of melanomas begin in existing moles, but the remainder develop in normal skin. 

According to Lucy Boyce Kennedy, MD, a Cleveland Clinic medical oncologist, melanoma is often discovered from a skin biopsy in the majority of patients. “But for a fair number of individuals with melanoma, it is first discovered from a lump.”

The diagnosis turned everything upside down, Jennifer says. A PET scan showed small lesions on her lungs. An MRI showed the cancer in her brain, too.

Jennifer was diagnosed with malignant metastatic melanoma. It was stage 4, an advanced cancer since it had spread to more distant lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

“Everything happened so quickly,” Jennifer remembers. “I was crying and upset. I thought I was going to die.” Jennifer says her husband Dean told her they would figure it out together. “He promised me that he would take me wherever we needed to go to get the best care possible.”

After doing research on cancer specialists and hospitals, and having conversations with family and friends, Jennifer and Dean decided to seek treatment at Cleveland Clinic under the care of Dr. Kennedy. “We wanted a physician who specializes in melanoma,” Jennifer says.

“I know it sounds crazy, but I was excited to meet with Dr. Kennedy. We were confident she would be great.”

At her first appointment late in December, Jennifer says she told Dr. Kennedy, “You are going to save my life. I just know it.”

Jennifer recalls Dr. Kennedy was very thorough during her appointment. “She went over treatment plans and possible side effects. She was very forthcoming.”

Jennifer wanted to vigorously fight the cancer, so Dr. Kennedy and other specialists developed an aggressive treatment plan that included Gamma Knife surgery and immunotherapy.

Gamma Knife surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted, high-energy radiation therapy to pinpoint and destroy brain tumors and lesions or keep them from growing. There is no knife involved, and the radiation does not affect nearby healthy brain tissue.

Immunotherapy is another cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to find and destroy cancer cells. According to Dr. Kennedy, immunotherapy can work well for a long time, even if the cancer is at stage 4.

Jennifer underwent Gamma Knife surgery in early January 2024. About 10 days later, she began an aggressive immunotherapy treatment which consisted of two cancer-fighting drugs administered every three weeks.

Shortly after the first treatment, Jennifer began experiencing side effects including nausea, flu-like symptoms, colitis and a painful and itching rash. Her mom moved into their North Lima, Ohio, home to be an additional support in helping take care of her.

“I was a mess,” Jennifer says. Her side effects continued and worsened. Some were serious enough she was hospitalized a few times during a three-month period before she slowly started to feel better. Eventually, the side effects were under control.

Jennifer says she felt sick throughout 2024, but tests showed the treatment was working. “I was bound and determined to get better,” she says.

Jennifer completed the immunotherapy regimen by staying focused on getting better and maintaining a positive attitude. “I told Dr. Kennedy I did not care what I had to go through. I could deal with the side effects.”

It took several months for Jennifer to regain her strength and feel like her typical self again. She credits Dr. Kennedy and all her providers for their care.

“I had a lot of family and friend support, too,” Jennifer says. “My husband gave me strength. He motivated and encouraged me every day. We have a special bond, and I love my life. I was not going to give up.”

Currently, Jennifer continues with her immunotherapy treatment every four weeks and has PET and MRI scans every three months. She feels like herself again and is committed to giving back by helping others with cancer.

Through her care team, Jennifer learned about the 4^th Angel Mentoring Program, a peer-mentoring service that matches patients who have cancer with trained volunteer mentors who have undergone similar situations. She was quick to sign up and is now mentoring four people.

“I get them to see the other side of treatment. If they are down, I can talk with them and give them suggestions on things to do. I try to give them hope and perspective. I truly feel this is my purpose, and it’s so gratifying,” Jennifer says about helping others.

A positive attitude for patients is important, Dr. Kennedy says, especially in younger patients. “Although Jennifer experienced serious and significant side effects, she did absolutely amazing. She is an inspiration for all of us.”

One year since her diagnosis, Jennifer’s lesions either disappeared or shrunk, Dr. Kennedy says. “She has responded well to treatment and has an excellent long-term prognosis.”

“I am so grateful to Dr. Kennedy and everyone who was involved in my care,” Jennifer says. “They are my dream team.”