There may be a new hope for patients suffering from the latest stages of Melanoma. Known as the deadliest form of skin cancer, almost 9,000 American die from the disease every year. The disease is thought to be caused by overexposure to the sun, or too much time in a tanning bed.

A new drug has recently been developed that may give Melanoma patients a chance at more time with their loved ones. Scientists have discovered that many patients actually have a gene that promotes cancer growth. The drug works by “disrupting the gene”, which causes tumors to shrink. So far, the drug has been effective in 80 percent of the patients who have the gene and has given them an average of seven months of extra time.

Although the doctors caution that they are unsure how long the drug will work, so far the prognosis has been good for many. Shelly Chance received her melanoma diagnosis eleven months ago and immediately underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She also began taking the experimental drug, which caused her cancer to go into remission.

“I used to wake up every day dying, I don’t do that anymore. I wake up every day living,” she said.