Jennifer Matthews: Relaxing in the kitchen is a treasured moment for Susan Eslick and her husband Tom. Susan was diagnosed with melanoma three years ago.
Susan Eslick: You sort of hope for the best, you know, and maybe prepare for the worst.
Jennifer Matthews: Surgery could have removed her cancer altogether. It also would have left a big scar in the middle of her face. But Susan found a doctor who offered an alternative.
Susan EslickI just thought it was a great opportunity to sort of be a guinea pig, if you will, for some terrific research that was being done."
Jennifer Matthews: Dartmouth Doctor Shane Chapman is studying the cream Imiquimod (Aldara) to treat lentigo maligna melanoma, a cancer that affects the skin's surface.
Dr. Shane Chapman: We can cut out the skin, but repairing it is a different story.
Jennifer Matthews: The cream is a welcome alternative to this scar surgery can leave behind.
Dr. Shane Chapman: It actually turns on, or triggers, an immune response. So what it's doing is basically causing cell destruction."
Jennifer Matthews: You can see that destruction at work on this mans face that red inflammation is a sign that cream is working.
Dr. Shane Chapman: We are using our own immune systems to treat the cancer in a very smart, specific, directed way.
Jennifer Matthews: Studies show this cream is 93% effective at destroying this type of melanoma.
Dr. Shane Chapman: The patients that have been treated with this are very grateful.
Jennifer Matthews: Susan was his first patient, and she couldn't be happier.
Susan Eslick: It was the best of all possible outcomes."
Jennifer Matthews: With no trace of the cancer in sight Susan can now focus on making memories with here husband.
This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services