At age 77, attorney Bill Berry lives a full life, practicing law part-time in San Francisco and embarking on exciting adventures with his wife, a retired professor at UCSF. Berry, also an avid tennis player, spent decades on the court. But seven years ago, when a sport-related knee replacement surgery forced a break in play, a far more serious challenge presented the toughest match of his life: cancer. But a breakthrough serve that changed the game came in the form of immunotherapy.
A Delayed Visit Leads to a Stage 4 Verdict
“At that time, I was so miserable after my knee replacement surgery, I didn’t want to deal with another problem,” says Berry, who first noticed a translucent spot above his left eyebrow in 2018. “I didn’t want to see a doctor, and that delay could have cost me my life.”
Four months into his recovery from knee replacement surgery, Berry noticed a concerning spot and scheduled an appointment with his dermatologist. A biopsy was taken, and he was referred to Dr. Mohammed Kashani, medical director of Sutter CPMC’s Cancer Center and lead investigator for melanoma clinical trials at Sutter. By then, the spot above his eyebrow had become deeply invasive. Dr. Kashani diagnosed Berry with melanoma and recommended a treatment plan that included working with a plastic surgeon to remove the cancer.
Dr. Mohammed Kashani-Sabet
“The initial tumor was quite deep. Although it hadn’t yet spread, we recommended ongoing monitoring through routine chest X-rays,” explains Dr. Kashani. “Tumors of that size have a higher risk of metastasizing to vital organs. As a precaution, I advised regular imaging after surgery, and that decision ultimately saved his life.”
Although Berry’s X-ray scans were clear for almost two and a half years and he showed no symptoms, a routine screening in December 2020 revealed new spots on his lungs, stomach and liver. Biopsies confirmed that the cancer had returned and progressed to stage 4 melanoma, having spread to several critical organs.
“It was not a good day,” Berry recalls. “When you hear you have stage 4 melanoma, you think you have very little time to live.”
A Turning Point: The Next Phase of Care
Berry’s care team, including Dr. Kashani and Dr. Kevin Kim, principal investigator and medical oncologist at Sutter’s CPMC, recommended a combination of immunotherapy drugs: OPDIVO® and YERVOY® every three weeks for three months. After the first three months, treatment would continue with OPDIVO® alone for up to two years, accompanied by regular scans to monitor progress.
When asked if he had any hesitation to start the immunotherapy protocol, Berry explained: “There was no question; if I didn’t do this, I was going to die, and I luckily experienced very few side effects.”
Within three months, the scans showed the cancer was gone, and Berry was in complete remission that May. Given the remarkable clinical response, a decision was made to discontinue immunotherapy after one year of treatment.
Dr. Kevin Kim
“For patients with advanced melanoma, immunotherapy has become the standard of care because it can activate the immune system in powerful and durable ways,” says Dr. Kim. “We were so pleased to see Bill’s response to the treatment; it was remarkable, complete remission within just a few months. It really reinforces the hope that this type of treatment can bring.”
Life in Remission
Today, Berry’s melanoma remains in remission four and a half years later confirmed by ongoing follow-up scans. He continues to practice law part-time, traveling with his wife and spending time with their two sons and three grandchildren in the Bay Area. His days on the tennis court may be fewer, but doesn’t count that as a loss. Instead he has gained a new outlook.
Bill and his wife pictured at a lake.
“I’m grateful and one happy guy, which annoys my wife sometimes,” he says with a chuckle. “Every day feels like a good day because at some level, I shouldn’t be here.”
When asked about a message he has for others who may be hesitant to go to the doctor: “My melanoma was obvious, right on my face. I delayed, and that could have cost me my life. Get it checked, don’t wait.”
“A decade ago, patients with this stage of advanced melanoma had limited options,” says Dr. Kashani. “Today, immunotherapy offers hope for long-term survival, and in Berry’s case, remission.”
“I’m still here,” says Berry with a smile. “And I couldn’t be happier.”
Do you or a loved one have melanoma? Find out more about Sutter’s cancer services.
