Golfer Dad Loses Vision Due to Rare Cancer, Finds Hope in a Clinical Trial: ‘I Turned My Body Over to Science’ (Exclusive)

**A Beacon of Hope: Mike Stansbury’s Journey Through Cancer**

Mike Stansbury, a resident of Franklin, Tennessee, has emerged as a powerful symbol of resilience in the face of daunting health challenges. His experience with cancer began in December 2018, when a seemingly innocuous day on the golf course took a life-altering turn. At 47, he was struck by the sudden realisation that he could no longer see out of his left eye.

Following a series of appointments, an ocular oncologist confirmed the devastating news: Stansbury had uveal melanoma, a rare and particularly aggressive form of cancer affecting the eye. The outlook was grim; doctors warned him that if the cancer returned, treatment options were severely limited and there was no FDA-approved cure for it. “Uveal melanoma, historically, has been the most difficult melanoma to treat,” said Dr Meredith McKean, Stansbury’s oncologist at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

In the two years that followed his diagnosis, Stansbury faced yet another blow when the cancer spread to his liver. Driven by a fierce determination to fight for his life, he enrolled in a clinical trial which would ultimately prove transformative. After several months of intensive treatment, he was overjoyed to find that the tumours had begun to shrink and eventually disappeared.

However, just as he was beginning to feel optimistic about his health, he was given another crushing diagnosis: stage 3 colon cancer. Stansbury underwent a five-month course of chemotherapy, which left him grappling with fatigue and nausea but ultimately resulted in a major breakthrough. By September 2024, doctors declared him cancer-free.

Reflecting on the challenges he faced, Stansbury revealed that his mental battles were often as daunting as the physical ones. “You have to tell yourself, ‘You’ve got to power through,’” he shared, noting that the emotional toll of sickness was immense. Despite the hardships, Stansbury remained grateful for the milestones in his life, including witnessing his twin daughters graduate from the University of Tennessee in May 2021.

The sequence of his medical trials began when he received concerning news during a routine MRI scan shortly after his daughters’ graduation. As fate would have it, the day before his landmark 50th birthday, doctors detected spots on his liver, confirming that the uveal melanoma had metastasised.

Undeterred, Stansbury explored options available to him and discovered a clinical trial that was starting soon. Despite initial apprehensions about the risks involved, he recognised that this was his lifeline. “What are you waiting for?” a friend urged him, motivating him to take the leap into the unknown.

For the next two years, Stansbury participated in the trial, undergoing treatments every other week for seven hours at a time. He complemented this experimental regimen with the FDA-approved drug Opdivo, leading to the astonishing result that his tumours had vanished by early 2023.

Just when he thought he had conquered the worst, March 14, 2024, brought a stark reminder of the fragility of his health. During a golf tournament, he experienced severe bleeding, prompting an urgent visit to the emergency room where doctors discovered a rupture in his colon due to an unrelated mass. Newly diagnosed with advanced stage 3 colon cancer, Stansbury needed immediate surgery to remove a section of his intestine.

With an already weakened body from the past treatments, the path ahead appeared daunting. However, perseverance from his family, notably his wife Carol and their supportive daughters, provided the emotional strength he needed. They remained his cheerleaders through relentless hospital visits and chemotherapy sessions, replete with thoughtful gestures of encouragement.

Fast forward to September 2024, and after a rigorous treatment schedule that combined therapies for both types of cancer, Stansbury rang the bell signifying the completion of his chemotherapy. Surrounded by balloons and joyful celebrations, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief and hope.

In 2026, he found joy in a new chapter of life, walking one of his daughters down the aisle, a poignant reminder of his journey. He now undergoes regular MRI scans every three months, battery-free of treatments, his only current regimen comprising black coffee and a multivitamin.

As he reflects on his harrowing journey from cancer diagnosis to recovery, Stansbury’s message to those battling similar health challenges is uncompromisingly simple: “You can do this. You don’t feel like it, but you can make it.” His story is a testament to the power of hope, determination, and the human spirit’s ability to persevere against the odds.