Foundation for Melanoma Research: Your Stories: Rich Beston

Rich Beston and his Wife, Ann, were happily enjoying their eight month old son, Ryan 10/99. He brought much joy to their lives. One day Rich noticed a bump on his shoulder. He thought it was just another boil, a guy thing, in his words. A few months went by and he and his Wife learned they were expecting another baby. Not much later than that, he wound up at the doctor's for a minor issue. It was then he showed that "bump" to the Doctor. He was instructed to immediately go to the Dermatologist's office for a needle biopsy. A few days later he got the phone call. "Melanoma." He called his Wife. She knew Melanoma all too well. She lost her own Father to Melanoma, when he was 47 years old in 1981. Those words were hard to hear. So the journey began. Since Melanoma typically loves to travel to the liver, lung, and brain, catscans were immediately ordered. They found suspicious spots on his right lung. They determined through surgery, it was indeed, metastic Melanoma to the lung. From that point, he was deemed Stage IV. It was then he met his incredible Oncologist, Dr. Lynn Schuchter at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.

His options, after the two lung nodules were removed, were to do nothing or undergo an experimental vaccine therapy, the C-VAX (Cancervax) sponsored through the John Wayne Cancer Institute in California. It was a double-blind Phase III clinical trial. He received either the placebo or true vaccine administered to his abdomen, for the next 11 months. It was brutally painful as the injections caused open wounds. September, 2000, Rich and Ann delivered a healthy baby girl, Shannon. Rich went for a catscan 4/01, and they found another metastic lung nodule. It was at that point, they decided on chemo. Rich went through a grueling five months of the Dartmouth Chemotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital (HUP). He was hospitalized every few weeks for the regimen over the course of the weekend. When that became too toxic, Dr. Schuchter put him on an oral chemo, Temodar. Rich and Ann were told to put their affairs in order.

Lo and behold, the lung nodule they were watching, upon the next scan, hadn't grown in size. Dr. Schuchter recommended going in surgically and removing the entire lung lobe which held the encapsulated tumor. That was 3/02. Rich was then put on GM-CSF which is an immune-booster he self-administered at home through injection.

While Rich has been No Evidence of Disease (or NED as they say in the Melanoma world) for five years. He continues to be monitored on a regular basis. And believe us, it doesn't ever get any eaiser. It's with you all the time. Dr. Schuchter has called him her "Miracle Boy." We are so grateful he is with us today.

Ann Beston formed a Melanoma Support group in the local Philadelphia area not much longer after Rich's diagnosis. It was at that time she came in contact with this incredible Foundation. Kate O'Neill, and her Mother, Eleanor Murdoch have become very special lifelong friends. They've helped the family get through many difficult times. The Noreen O'Neill Foundation for Melanoma Research is an amazing group of people who are raising funds to help find a cure.

President's Comment

‘The Beston Family story is one of courage and heart but Ann Beston’s contribution to melanoma advocacy plays an important part. Ann founded the only Melanoma Support Group serving a three state area in 2001. It continued for 4 years and was a significant source of information and comfort. Because of her constant dedication and idealism that group is still in touch and Ann is a foundation board member. Also, because of the relationships formed at that support group our foundation is a member of the National Melanoma Alliance. All of this happened because Ann used her vision and energy to bring melanoma sufferers together. She is a remarkable woman.’



	YOUR STORIES RICH BESTON