The July 31 Canada Monthly Chat was a truly special event, featuring guest speaker Gary Tobin, who shared his extraordinary journey of resilience and survival after being diagnosed with stage 4 Acral Lentiginous Melanoma. This session was recorded so the broader community could benefit from his inspiring story.
Gary, a retired teacher, was first diagnosed in 2009 after months of misdiagnosis. What began as a bleeding fingernail eventually led to multiple surgeries, including amputation and removal of lymph nodes, followed by the devastating news that the cancer had spread to his lung and throat. By 2016, he was told his condition was inoperable and terminal. The only option left was a clinical trial at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. His doctors cautioned him that immunotherapy would likely not work for his rare type of melanoma. Against all odds, the treatment began to shrink his tumors until, within nine months, there was no evidence of disease left.
What makes Gary’s story so impactful is not only the medical breakthrough but also his steadfast belief in the power of a positive mindset. He described visualizing his immune system like Pac-Man, searching out and destroying cancer cells. He embraced exercise, spirituality, and visualization techniques as essential tools alongside science. For Gary, positivity was not optional — it was his daily discipline. As he puts it, “When you think positively, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. When you think negatively, you have everything to lose and nothing to gain.”
Now considered cured, Gary continues to share his message of resilience, mindset, and advocacy. He encourages patients to become their own advocates, stay active, and embrace positivity. His story offers hope to those facing the uncertainty of rare cancers and affirms that science, mindset, and faith can work together in remarkable ways.
For more information and upcoming programs, visit erdheim-chester.org.