Melanoma patient finds out if he received Keytruda or placebo drug

Melanoma patient finds out if he received Keytruda or placebo drug

There has been a big twist in a story we have been following.

Nigel Davis was told he had melanoma in February and had six months to live, but he was given a lifeline in the form of a drug trial.

But there was a catch, he wouldn't know whether he was receiving Keytruda - the melanoma fighting drug - or a placebo drug.

When Story first met Mr Davis, he was told by doctors he was dying and weighed just 81 kilograms. But when we caught up with him last week, he was 102 kilograms and pushing 120 kilograms on the bench press.

He's maintained a positive attitude and outlook and believes it is mind over matter sometimes.

But Nigel received big news last week. He had developed two new growths and he was not being given Keytruda, but a placebo drug along with two other drugs which are not currently funded by Pharmac.

The trial was testing how those drugs worked together to fight Melanoma and compared results between those who were on Keytruda and those who were not.

Mr Davis will now be treated with only Keytruda and we will continue to track his progress.

Watch the video for the full Story report.