The "I Believe" Button

A lot of folks at The Hotel Melanoma have participated in clinical trials. In my case, it was neoadjuvant biochemotherapy following a Stage IIIc diagnosis with fourteen malignant lymph nodes. I’ve since learned that I seem to be a member of a fairly small club, because some (and maybe a lot of) melanoma docs see biochemo as the equivalent of using a flamethrower to defrost a refrigerator. They’re entitled to their opinion, but it apparently worked for me and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Better living through toxic chemistry…


One of my neighbors is a former test pilot. He once told me that in that line of work there comes a time when a pilot has to punch the “I Believe” button and trust that the aircraft will do what its designers say it will do-- and be the first, and possibly last, pilot to put the aircraft through a particular maneuver. I chuckled and responded that I thought that perhaps I did something similar when electing to participate in a clinical trial.

For all of you who’ve punched the “I Believe” button, here’s my version of The Youngbloods’ “Get Together”…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCiLxRCBf40&feature=fvwrel




Cure is what we long to bring,
And fear's what makes us try
You can quake in loud scan ring
Or make the bad cells die
Know the drug is on the thing
And you need not know why


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now


Some will come and some will go
C shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment in time
Fading into past


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now

If you hear the song I sing,
You must under-tan
You hold the key to health and years
All in your trembling hand
Just sunscreen unlocks them both
It's there at your command


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now


C'mon people now,
Trials are one mother
Everybody get together
Try one drug or another right now

Right now
Right now!