Schmidt Provides His “Game Plan” for Living
with Melanoma
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and Pro Baseball Hall of
Famer Mike Schmidt – two legendary athletes whose determination,
faith and hard work earned them a place in sports history – now
have something else in common: overcoming cancer. Earlier this
year, Kelly shared his “game plan” for tackling head and neck
cancer to launch Your Cancer Game Plan, an awareness campaign, from
Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and
Canada, focused on helping people with cancer and their loved ones
cope with their emotional, health and communication needs. Now, in
partnership with melanoma survivor Schmidt, CancerCare and leading
melanoma patient organizations, the initiative is expanding to help
those with melanoma map out their own cancer “game plan.”
This Smart News Release features an
interactive multimedia capsule. View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170919005230/en/
A melanoma diagnosis – particularly for someone with advanced or
late stage disease – can cause feelings of depression, anxiety or
fear. Schmidt, considered the greatest third baseman in baseball
history, spent 18 seasons in the Major Leagues racking up
impressive stats and accolades, but today believes melanoma is the
biggest game-changer of his life.
“Enduring Stage III melanoma not only gave me a greater
appreciation for the relationships in my life, but a renewed sense
of purpose,” said Schmidt. “One way I can give back is to help
others find the support, information and tools they need to make it
through this journey. I was fortunate that my game plan came
together with the support of my family and team of doctors, but I
know others may need help taking action.”
By visiting www.yourcancergameplan.com people can hear Schmidt’s
journey with melanoma and his tips about remaining positive, open
communication and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Your
Cancer Game Plan for melanoma is a collaboration between Merck and
CancerCare, and leading melanoma patient organizations with more
than 100 years of combined experience – including AIM at Melanoma,
the Melanoma Research Foundation, Melanoma International Foundation
and the Melanoma Research Alliance.
Understanding Melanoma
Melanoma is a skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes (cells
that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color). The
rates of melanoma have been rising in the U.S. for the past 30
years. In 2017, about 87,110 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the
U.S. It’s normal for people living with melanoma to feel worried,
depressed, or anxious. While some are affected more than others,
everyone can benefit from help and support.
“A cancer diagnosis can turn a person’s world upside down – both
physically and emotionally,” said Patricia Goldsmith, chief
executive officer of CancerCare. “That’s why it’s critical for
people living with melanoma to seek support. Whether it’s talking
to a loved one or a professional counselor, or by using resources
like Your Cancer Game Plan and those offered through patient
organizations to help plan, guide and manage the difficult path
ahead.”
To hear more about Your Cancer Game Plan, Schmidt’s story as
well as tips from CancerCare and other leading cancer advocates,
please join a one-hour online discussion on Thursday, Oct.19 at
11:00 a.m. EDT. Visit CancerCare.org/melanoma to register.
About Your Cancer Game Plan
“We’re proud to partner with baseball great Mike Schmidt who
began advocating for sun prevention as part of his personal cancer
journey, and is now joining Merck and leaders in the oncology
community to provide others impacted by melanoma with Your Cancer
Game Plan resources,” said Jill DeSimone, senior vice president,
Merck Oncology, U.S.
Your Cancer Game Plan is a resource for people with cancer and
their loved ones focused on the emotional, health and communication
challenges of living with cancer. The online Your Cancer Game Plan
hub provides unique content including communication tips, coping
strategies, and health and nutritional information, including
healthy recipes, to help those with cancer and their caregivers
take an active role in developing a “game plan” to support their
journey. The initiative is supported by Merck in partnership with
CancerCare, Savor Health and seven (7) cancer-specific
organizations with more than 100 years of combined experience. To
learn more, visit www.yourcancergameplan.com.
About Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt made his Major League Baseball debut in 1972, after
spending two seasons on the Philadelphia Phillies’ farm team. He
played for the Phillies for 18 seasons, and is often considered the
greatest third baseman to ever have played the sport. Schmidt was a
twelve-time All-Star, a three-time winner of the National League
Most Valuable Player award, and won the National League Gold Glove
Award for third basemen ten times. Schmidt was elected to the
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995. As a professional athlete, Schmidt
always felt invincible, but facing a Stage III melanoma diagnosis
really threw him a curveball.
In August 2013, Schmidt noticed a lesion on his hand that looked
suspicious. His dermatologist conducted a full examination and
found a mole on Schmidt’s back that he wanted to biopsy. The biopsy
revealed Stage III melanoma, which led to multiple surgeries,
chemotherapy and radiation where Schmidt spent months fighting for
his life. Now cancer-free, Schmidt advocates for sun prevention and
has joined Merck to help provide others battling melanoma with Your
Cancer Game Plan tools and resources.
About CancerCare
Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization
providing free, professional support services and information to
help people manage the emotional, practical and financial
challenges of cancer. Our comprehensive services include counseling
and support groups over the phone, online and in-person,
educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment
assistance. CancerCare services are provided by oncology social
workers and world-leading cancer experts.
About Our Melanoma Partners
AIM at Melanoma
AIM at Melanoma is the largest international melanoma foundation
globally engaged and locally invested in advancing the battle
against melanoma through innovative research, legislative reform,
education, and patient and caregiver support.
Melanoma International Foundation
Established in 2003, the Melanoma International Foundation (MIF)
is a non-profit organization created to provide the scientifically
sound guidance and support our founder could not find when she was
diagnosed with melanoma.
Melanoma Research Alliance
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) is the largest private
funder of melanoma and pursues a mission to end suffering and death
due to melanoma by collaborating with all stakeholders to
accelerate powerful research, advance cures for all patients and
prevent more melanomas. Thanks to the generosity of MRA founders,
Debra and Leon Black, 100% of donations to MRA goes directly to
supporting melanoma research. MRA has committed more than $88
million in funding to advance melanoma research and leveraged an
additional $82 million in the fight against melanoma. MRA funds
projects in the areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
www.CureMelanoma.org.
Melanoma Research Foundation
The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest
independent organization devoted to melanoma. The MRF is a 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing education,
advocacy and medical research in finding effective treatments and
eventually a cure for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin
cancer.
Merck’s Focus on Cancer
Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative
oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck
Oncology, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting
accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus
is on pursuing research in immuno-oncology and we are accelerating
every step in the journey – from lab to clinic – to potentially
bring new hope to people with cancer.
About Merck
For more than a century, Merck, a leading global
biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States
and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines
and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases.
Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies
and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in
more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We
also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care
through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today,
Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the
prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and
communities around the world - including cancer, cardio-metabolic
diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and
infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information,
visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co.,
Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth,
N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the
company's management and are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks
or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general
industry conditions and competition; general economic factors,
including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care
legislation in the United States and internationally;
global trends toward health care cost containment; technological
advances, new products and patents attained by competitors;
challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining
regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict
future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays;
financial instability of international economies and sovereign
risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and
other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory
actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2016
Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's
Internet site (www.sec.gov).
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170919005230/en/
MerckCarmen de Gourville, 267-305-4195Christiana Pascale,
212-257-6722
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024