Allen Dingman's STAGE 4 MELANOMA

On June 3rd, 2015 Allen Dingman of Deferiet, NY was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma.

Allen has been a life-long volunteer in the service of others in Northern New York and our nation.

Over the past 25 years, he has served as the Volunteer Fire Chief in the village of Deferiet, Jefferson County Volunteer EMS Coordinator, Scoutmaster and Chairman of Fort Drum's Boy Scout Troop 26, and founder of the Carthage Lacrosse Club for Boys & Girls Youth Lacrosse in Jefferson & Lewis Counties.  From the 1970s to 1990, he served in both the Navy and the Army.

He has selflessly rushed to hundreds of emergency calls, car accidents, structure and wild fires with the goal of assisting others.  As with many of our local volunteers, he has answered the call at all hours of the night, every day of the week, and in all weather conditions.  

For 25 years, he has served the needs of others without asking for anything in return.  We are now requesting your help!  Since losing his job and traveling 4 hours a day for treatment, winning this battle will take a mighty effort including love, emotional support and financial resources!

To those who know him personally, you know Allen Dingman would give you the shirt off his back in a snowstorm.  Please if you are able, consider a donation to this lifesaving cause.  The 5 year survival rates for Stage IV Melanoma are slim, but we know with all of our support, he can beat this!

Many have asked us what they can do to help, even if they are so far away.  The answer is spread the word and please consider a small donation.

Thank you very much!


Timeline of events:

June 3rd, Stage IV Melanoma Diagnosis.

He was forced to resign from his job as a contract safety officer on June 4th due to the rapid spread of his cancer and the nature of his work exasperating the condition.

On June 16th, he had a tumor roughly the size of a softball removed from his right hip flexor area.   

After delays resulting from complications during surgery, he was finally able to start immuno-therapy on July 21st.  

Tomorrow, August 11th, he starts his second round of immuno-therapy injections.

He has two more rounds of immuno-therapy injections every three weeks, then the radiation treatments begin.

Safety Notes for Others:

As anyone can imagine, the cancer news came as a shock to him and his family as he has worn long pants and shirts during the summer months for the last 25 years.

Also, in what was surprising to many, was the fact that no primary site for the metastatic cancer was found.  So not only had his cancer spread to other parts of the body, but the doctors could not locate the primary site.  

Additionally unexpected was the fact that he had a multitude of scans over the past two years during work ups to multiple hip and bicep surgeries.  During these scans and work ups, thorough blood and lymph evaluations were conducted and no cancer was ever found.

This effort is being led by Lee, one of Allen's sons who lives in Summerfield, NC.