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Melanoma Patient Given Months To Live Shares Survival StoryJune 18, 2015 6:56 PM By Robbie Owens

Filed Under: cancer, Dallas, Health, Robbie Owens

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – In April of last year, Kimberly Hinshaw felt asmall, peasized bump on her thigh. It didn’t hurt and she says if shehadn’t been applying lotion she probably never would have noticed it. But,the tiny bump caught her attention again a few days later when it wasnoticeably larger.

“A few days later, I felt the exact same bump, on my upper arm,” recallsHinshaw. “Then, I knew something was dramatically wrong.”

Soon doctors confirmed a dire diagnosis: metastatic melanoma, whichmeans the skin cancer had spread. The time between finding the tinybump and being told that she was going to die? “Three weeks.”

Hinshaw says she got second, third, fourth and fifth opinions. In fact, shesays a full half dozen doctors suggested she get her affairs in order andget busy on that bucket list.

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Robbie OwensFollow

Robbie grew up in northeast Texas, in a tiny town where her family's history spans sixgenerations. After working in the business world for several years, Robbie received aMasters of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Me...More from Robbie Owens

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So, Hinshaw and some friends took off for the Catalina islands. She saysit was a fabulous trip. “I felt calm, I felt relaxed, and I felt prepared forwhat lay ahead.”

But, she wasn’t ready to stop fighting. Her journey took her to the MaryCrowley Cancer Center at Medical City Dallas Hospital—and a promisingclinical trial. It is where she would also meet the center’s Medical Director,John Nemunaitis, M.D.

“He said, ‘hi—I’m Dr. John… and I’m here to save your life’.”

It was an introduction worth remembering—especially if the good doctorcould deliver. Dr. Nemunaitis recommended an immunebased therapycalled TVEC. Although the treatment was still in clinical trials, it hadshown tremendous promise. A gene is removed from the virus thatcauses herpes, and reengineered. The modified gene grows insidecancer cells; but, not in normal cells.

“Placed inside is an immune stimulating gene called GMCSF,” says Dr.Nemunaitis. “That gene turns on the immune system to recognize thecancer cells that have accepted this virus to grow into them. And when itdoes that, it turns on the immune response against the cancer.”

Hinshaw’s treatment involved injections twice a month for 28 weeks. Shedidn’t get sick. She didn’t lose her hair. But, she did get her cure.

“By scans,” she says, “there is no cancer in my body.” A surgical biopsy isplanned for next week to confirm that the treatment has done its job.

And by the way, she’s ready to turn that bucket list—into a barrel.

“I do feel like I’m a walking miracle, I do. I feel like I’m alive to tell thisstory—that there is hope for people who can live with cancer.”

Follow me on twitter@cbs11Robbie

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All RightsReserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, orredistributed.)