Summit of Survival: Tobi's Journey Beyond Melanoma

In this episode, we are joined by Tobi Sample, a melanoma survivor, to share an extraordinary and inspiring story. Today, prepare to be moved and inspired as we delve into Tobi's miraculous journey of survival against melanoma. Tobi, ten years ago, faced a diagnosis that would have halted many in their tracks. But not Tobi. To celebrate her 10th anniversary of No Evidence of Disease, she did something most of us only dream of - she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. ABOUT OUR GUEST Tobi Sample, Melanoma Survivor Tobi Sample was first diagnosed with stage IIb melanoma in 2008. When the cancer returned in 2013, spreading to her spine, humerus, clavicle, sacrum, rib, and lung, she faced a daunting battle. That summer, she found herself too weak to even get out of bed. In a stroke of fortune, her husband discovered a promising clinical trial at UC Chapel, and Tobi was accepted. Over the next year, she bravely traveled from southern Indiana to North Carolina every three weeks. Remarkably, she has been in remission for nearly a decade, showing no evidence of the disease. A lifelong athlete, Sample was resolute in her desire to reclaim her active lifestyle. Gradually, she regained her strength, participating in half-marathons and even training for a 2022 hike up Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2019, Tobi reached out to AIM at Melanoma, driven to initiate a walk in the Louisville area to spread awareness and raise funds for research. She believes firmly, “Until there’s a cure, there’s more that needs to be done.” Tobi feels immensely grateful for the chance to watch her children mature into adults, now 26 and 23, cherishing the life she fought so hard to protect.