Sharon Belvin went from a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis to becoming one of the first patients successfully treated with the groundbreaking immunotherapy ipilimumab (YervoyⓇ). Decades later, she continues to share her story — one that stands as a testament to the power of research, the promise of clinical trials, and the enduring strength of hope.
Facing a Stage 4 Diagnosis
Sharon Belvin was just 22 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. She was finishing graduate school when her life was suddenly upended by devastating news.
Hearing the words ‘You have cancer’ carries a weight that’s almost impossible to describe.
At the time, survival rates for advanced melanoma were extremely low. Treatment options were limited, and Sharon faced a grim prognosis.
“I remember the fear, the uncertainty, and the question that echoed in my mind every single day: How much time do I really have left?”
Discovering Immunotherapy
Sharon underwent multiple chemotherapy treatments, but her cancer did not respond. Instead, she endured severe and debilitating side effects. As her options dwindled, her oncologist — Jedd Wolchok, MD, PhD, Associate Director of CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council — offered her one final possibility: a clinical trial for an experimental immunotherapy called ipilimumab, now known as YervoyⓇ.
She didn’t know whether the trial might give her weeks, months, or simply a glimmer of hope — but she knew she wanted to try. Sharon enrolled immediately, taking a leap of faith.
She became one of the first patients in this pivotal clinical trial, built upon research pioneered by Jim Allison, PhD, Nobel Laureate and Director of CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council, and led by Dr. Wolchok.
After just four rounds of treatment, Sharon was declared cancer-free one year later — and she remains so to this day.
“I get to stand up here decades later and tell this story,” Sharon shared at CRI’s Gala in October 2025. “I’ve had the chance to create so many memories over the years that I just wasn’t supposed to have.”
Ipilimumab went on to receive landmark FDA approval in 2011, transforming the treatment landscape for melanoma and changing the lives of patients around the world.
The Gift of Time
Diagnosed at such a young age, Sharon has since lived a full and meaningful life — one she once feared she might never have. She is a wife, a mother to three children, and an avid health coach.
“I am not just a patient. I am a survivor.”
Grateful for the time she’s been given, Sharon now dedicates herself to supporting others facing cancer. She connects with patients, offering encouragement and perspective drawn from her own experience. Her advice is simple but powerful: take a big, deep breath — and find the best doctor you can.
Supporting Immunotherapy
After achieving remission, Sharon had the opportunity to meet the scientist behind the therapy that saved her life: Dr. Jim Allison. Learning about the long and challenging journey that led ipilimumab from discovery to the clinic left her in awe.
She is deeply proud to have been part of a clinical trial that not only saved her life and the lives of many others, but also helped launch an entirely new era of cancer treatment. Today, Sharon is a passionate advocate for continued research and clinical trials, believing firmly in their power to give more patients the chance at decades of memories.
My life and the lives of countless others are living proof that this work matters. But our job isn’t finished. For every survivor’s story, there are families still waiting for their miracle.
