Mel Mann: Career switch during a terminal illness
Mel Mann, Patient Advocate in
“CAREER SWITCH DURING A TERMINAL ILLNESS
In May 2001, 23 years ago, Gleevec (Imatinib) was approved by the FDA. I had been diagnosed with terminal leukemia in Jan 1995 and given 3 years to live. When I started the phase 1 Gleevec trial in August 1998, I could barely walk a city block. Ten months later, in 1999, I ran a 26.2 mile marathon in Anchorage Alaska, and cycled a 111 mile century bike ride in Tucson Arizona a few months later, raising research funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Everyone loves the marathon story.
One thing I often forget to mention is that halfway through the Gleevec trial, I started going to college 15-18 hours a semester, year round. Since I had to take a mandatory medical retirement from the Army, at the rank of Major, because of the terminal cancer diagnosis. I decided to start a second career, at age 40, once I felt I might live longer than the prognosis. How long, the doctors not know. It would be 18 months before the drug would receive accelerated approval. Because the military was paying for the education, I had to get special written approval from the doctor that I was well enough to attend school.
I earned a second bachelor’s degree (English Literature), a second master’s degree (Secondary English, Grades 6-12) and a Professional Educator’s Teaching License with a 4.0 gpa from Georgia State University, all within a 3 1/2 year period, 21 years ago, this month, May 2003.
I also wanted to give other patients with CML hope that their minds and bodies could still conquer cancer and that they could still accomplish their goals. I presented myself as exhibit A.”
Source: Mel Mann/LinkedIn
