E59: RARE² Panel Interview - Kenny, Yvonne, Presley

Join A Cure in Sight to briefly interview Yvonne, Presley, and Kenny; patients who are some of the “rare among the rare” or the RARE² in honor of Rare Disease Day. Yvonne, Presley, and Kenny show their stripes by expressing what navigating their journey with ocular melanoma has looked like–and how that has differed from the mainstream community. Ocular melanoma is most commonly found in fair skinned, light eyed males over the age of 50 according to most statistics found online. These 3 patients demonstrate the statistics just don’t accurately depict those in our community who are here, living with OM, and who don’t “fit the mold” of the most common demographic diagnosed. Meet Yvonne Loggins-Colemen, diagnosed in 2020 with ocular melanoma by sheer chance; rare among the rare as a woman of African American descent. Meet Presley Jackson, diagnosed at the age of 13 with ocular melanoma, experiencing childhood eye cancer, and adjusting to the loss of vision and a great deal of uncertainty, while living as full of a life as a teen as he possibly can. Meet Kenny Rains, diagnosed at the age of 29, far younger than most, and tackling life with new passion and perspective after navigating an immense mental health struggle that his diagnosis triggered.    ANNOUNCEMENTS: Head to our site to register for a 5K Lookin’ for a Cure near you! www.lookinforacure.org   Swing for Sight April 22, 2023 REGISTER for SWING FOR SIGHT TODAY: Subscribe to the newsletter to stay in the know Newsletter link   Email [email protected] for questions regarding any upcoming events! ********* Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, or  Instagram @acureinsight, for more stories, tips, research news, and ideas to help you navigate this journey with OM! *A Cure in Sight is a 501c3 organization. All donations made can help fund our podcast to educate patients, fund research, aid patients, and more! Donate $10 $15 $20 today to help A Cure in Sight in their quest to find a cure. Contribute via  PAYPAL OR VENMO or reach out directly to [email protected]  The Eye Believe Podcast is brought to you by Castle Biosciences. Castle Biosciences is a leading diagnostics company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care. The Company aims to transform disease management by keeping people first: patients, clinicians, employees and investors.  This podcast was hosted by Danet Peterson and produced by Page Fronczek.