Episode 1: My Diagnosis

Fifteen years ago, Melody heard the words that would change her life forever: you have ocular melanoma.

In the first episode of My 15 Years, Melody — founder and president of A Cure in Sight — shares an overview of her diagnosis and the moments surrounding it. From the initial symptoms and medical appointments to the shock, fear, and uncertainty that followed, this episode begins the story at its starting point.

This conversation lays the foundation for the series, offering an honest look at what it’s like to receive a rare cancer diagnosis and begin navigating a future filled with unknowns.

This episode is for patients, survivors, caregivers, and anyone facing a diagnosis they never expected.

Thank you for being here — and for walking this journey with us.

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

💙 Learn more about A Cure in Sight

🤝 Support ocular melanoma research and awareness

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Hadfield, a medical oncologist treating uveal melanoma patients in the Northeast, for an in-depth discussion of the most important takeaways from ESMO 2025.

Dr. Hadfield breaks down key study results and emerging data from major trials, including the CHOPIN Trial, Immatics Trial, IDEAYA Trial, and more—offering expert insight into what these findings may mean for patients, caregivers, and the future of uveal melanoma treatment.

Links mentioned in this episode

Q1 Eye on the Experts Webinar: Eyes on the Chopin Study: What does this mean for patients? https://events.zoom.us/ev/AgpsCnGSA4Hnib_afWXvh5jNq0qqSTvpKhOB8xHg0M9cItAlsoSw~Ah8MbImmpM---YQJIycJ2xa5cdZV0t5y8JSYZGuk2DnZJoO6vsGncOFduA

ACIS Physician Finder: https://acureinsight.org/resources/ - click physician finder

ACIS Metastatic Treatment Resources (including the July 2025 updated clinical trial summaries of enrolling trials): https://acureinsight.org/metastatic-om/

ASCO Fiber Study 2025: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.9511

Summary of Studies discussed from attendance at ESMO: (https://acureinsight.org/acis-summary-of-uveal-melanoma-um-presentations-abstracts-and-posters-at-the-annual-meeting-of-the-european-society-for-medical-oncology-esmo-october-17-21-2025-berlin-germany/

ACIS NEWS RELEASES: follow along and subscribe to our newsletter to see the latest updates as we have them. https://acureinsight.org/ocular-melanoma-news/

Whether you’re a patient, advocate, or clinician, this episode provides a clear and accessible overview of the latest research shaping the uveal melanoma landscape.

Tune in to learn what’s new, what’s promising, and where the field may be headed next.

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Sophie Cantu, who shares her personal experience participating in a TIL (Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte) clinical trial for ocular melanoma.

After previous treatments were unsuccessful, Sophie enrolled in the TIL trial—and saw encouraging results, including tumor shrinkage. She speaks candidly about what led her to the trial, what the experience was like, and how it changed her outlook moving forward.

Sophie’s story offers hope to patients and families navigating treatment decisions and highlights the importance of continued research and clinical trials in advancing options for ocular melanoma.

Tune in to hear Sophie’s journey, her perspective on perseverance, and why sharing patient experiences matters.

NCT pages for trials mentioned:

TIL TRIAL - https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03467516

IDEAYA TRIAL - https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05987332

RP2 TRIAL - https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06581406

Sophie Socials: https://www.facebook.com/SophieStevens9 https://www.instagram.com/sophiegstevenscantu/

Mental Health With A Dash Of Humor with Frank King | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we sit down with Frank King, the Mental Health Comedian, for an honest, eye-opening, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about mental health.

Frank shares practical guidance on how to start conversations about mental health, key signs to look for in people experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, and—most importantly—what we can actually do to help. Drawing from his own lived experience and years of advocacy, Frank shows how humor, empathy, and listening can truly save lives.

This episode is for anyone who wants to support a loved one, a colleague, or even themselves—and isn’t sure where to begin.

🧠 In this episode, we cover:

How to talk about mental health without fear or judgment

Warning signs of depression and suicidal ideation

What actually helps when someone is struggling

How humor can open the door to healing

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone—and this conversation could make a difference. 👉 If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and share. You never know who might need to hear it.

📌 If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, please reach out to local emergency services or call/text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Connect with Frank- https://mentalhealthcomedian.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theMentalHealthComedian/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOTSdhj3ny4

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we are joined by Carol McColl, an ocular melanoma patient of more than seven years, who offers a powerful and deeply human perspective on collective grief and collective hope.

Carol shares how community and connection play a vital role in navigating the grief and loss that often accompany an OM diagnosis. Through shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and mutual support, patients can find purpose, develop resilience, and cultivate hope—even on the most difficult days.

As you listen, we invite you to reflect and engage: share an inspiring quote, a favorite book, or a song that brings you comfort and light when things feel heavy. Together, these small moments of connection can make a meaningful difference.

As Carol beautifully reminds us: “Meaning fuels hope, and hope fuels strength and courage, which fuels resilience and perseverance.”

Tune in and be part of this conversation about hope, healing, and the power of community.

Carol's Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/carol.g.mccoll

Drippy The Sad Raincloud: https://abjustforyou.com/product/gwyn-morgan-the-tale-of-the-sad-rain-cloud/

Other great book we recommend-

Mans Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl- https://amzn.to/3L073cL

Try Softer by Aundi Kobler- https://amzn.to/4bg6J43

Strong Like Water by Aundi Kobler- https://amzn.to/4aGTVnf

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzaro- https://amzn.to/4qffujO

In this powerful episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Megan Morelli, who shares the story of her mother, Tami Sulistyo, an ocular melanoma patient whose legacy continues to inspire meaningful change.

Following Tami’s passing, Megan and her family found purposeful ways to honor her life, strength, and impact—including the creation of the Tami Sulistyo Memorial Research Grant. Through this grant, Tami’s legacy lives on by supporting vital ocular melanoma research and helping move the field forward.

In this conversation, Megan discusses:

How her family transformed grief into action

What it means to create a memorial research grant

Practical and impactful ways individuals and families can honor loved ones while advancing medical research

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, guidance on making a difference, or ways to honor someone you love, this episode offers heartfelt insight and hope.

👉 Learn more about the Tami Sulistyo Memorial Research Grant and how you can make an impact: https://give.arvofoundation.org/e/B90Oaw?vid=1nw87v

💙 Thank you for supporting ocular melanoma research and the Eye Believe Podcast.

🎙️ Steps For Sight 2026 with Kristen MacDonald | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re talking all about Steps For Sight 2026, A Cure In Sight’s annual fundraiser supporting the ocular melanoma community and funding research toward a cure.

Steps For Sight runs January 1–31, and participants commit to walking 7,000 steps a day to honor the 7,000 people diagnosed with ocular melanoma each year.

Hosts Danet and Megan are joined by ocular melanoma patient Kristen MacDonald, founder of KMac Fights Back—the top fundraising team year after year. Kristen shares why she participates in Steps For Sight, how she successfully grows her team, and why this challenge is so important to the OM community and advancing research.

🚨 Registration opens TODAY (12/21)!

👉 Sign up now and download the Charity Footprints app to track your steps: https://www.charityfootprints.com/stepsforsight/

✨ Whether you’re a patient, survivor, caregiver, or supporter, this episode will inspire you to move with purpose and help step us closer to a cure.

🔔 Subscribe, 👍 like, and 💬 comment to support the OM community and stay connected with A Cure In Sight.

In this inspiring episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we welcome author and advocate Rachel Sindaco, whose journey through Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Ocular Melanoma (OM) reshaped her life in unimaginable ways—and ultimately saved it.

Rachel maintains a remarkable positive outlook, openly sharing how she considers herself lucky to have MS. It was her MS diagnosis that led to increased medical monitoring, allowing her ocular melanoma to be caught early—a discovery that may have saved her life. Without MS, Rachel believes her cancer might have gone undetected until it was too late.

Her book, From a Kick in the Head to a Kick in the Ass: My Involuntary Journey with Multiple Sclerosis and Ocular Melanoma, is a candid, often humorous, and deeply moving memoir about navigating serious illness, reframing adversity, and finding gratitude in the most unexpected places.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that perspective matters, early detection saves lives, and even the hardest diagnoses can carry unexpected gifts.

📘 Order Rachel’s book now to receive your copy by Christmas! Support the podcast by purchasing through our Amazon affiliate link: 👉 https://amzn.to/44un94Q

Shop the ACIS affiliate store- https://acureinsight.org/shop/amazon-affiliate-products/