At 19 years old I received the news
every person hopes they never have to hear. “You have cancer”. On July 23rd,
2009 my family and I enjoyed a wonderful day spending time with each other,
browsing quaint shops in Door County, eating a delicious meal, and enjoying the
famous Door County fudge. Never thinking our lives would change forever the
next morning at 8:00 a.m. On July 24th, 2009 I was enjoying
breakfast coffee in the cool, breezy summer morning with my parents and sister,
one of my favorite things to do. The phone rings, I wonder, who in the world
could be calling so early?! It is the dermatologist’s office wondering if I
could come in to see the doctor.
“Sorry, but no I have to work at
11:00 a.m. so I won’t make it in time. Could I come next week?”
“No, the doctor is on vacation next
week, would you be able to come this afternoon?” The nurse asked.
I responded, “No, because I work
till 4 p.m.”
“It is really important you come in
today.” The nurse stated.
“Ok I will be there in an hour
(minding you I have not showered or got ready for the day),” I responded. I
call into work saying I have to go to the doctor, but I will try to get back in
time for my shift. As I get ready I am freaking out, what could be wrong, are
they going to tell me I have cancer? What if it is cancer? What am I going to
do? What about school? Will I have to do chemo? If it is cancer, how bad is it
going to be? I was dreading going there. My stepdad drove me to the doctor’s
office and came in with me.
The nurse asked, “Do you know why
you are here?”
“No. I just knew I had to come
right away” I responded.
“You have melanoma. The
doctor will be in shortly” she said.
All I could think is what is
melanoma, what does it have to do with me, and it sounds like a big scary word.
My doctor came in and explained more about melanoma, which is the most
aggressive form of skin cancer. He told me I would need surgery in the next few
weeks and we would go from there. I was in complete shock. I had cancer.
Needless to say I did not go into work that day. I never saw this coming.
Telling my mother, sister, and boyfriend I had skin cancer was one of the
hardest things I have ever had to do. Every time I had to tell someone I felt
like I was lying. Look at me, I am a young person, skin cancer is supposed to
be for old people. Well it is not and I am living proof. My sister and I were
talking recently and she said, “Cancer is blind, it has no preference. Any
race, gender, and age are susceptible to its claws”.
On August 13th, 2009 I
had the rest of the mole and 1 cm of surrounding skin removed from the upper
back portion of my left arm. Then there was more waiting for those test
results, hoping my margins would come back clear. Luckily and with God on my
side they did. The next step, because my margins were clear, was to begin my
routine skin checks. For the next two years I would go for a skin check every
three months, provided there was no evidence of disease (NED). Once again God
was with me because my two years were up last June (2011) and because there was
no evidence of disease I was able to be moved to every six months. This will
continue for the next five years, once again provided there is no evidence of
disease. I will always have skin checks no matter what.
The only reason I even found out I had
skin cancer was because my mom told me to go for skin checks, especially
because I liked to lay out in the sun and used tanning beds (which are HUGE NO
NO’s now!!!!). I had felt a mole in the spring of 2009 on the upper back of my
left arm, but never thought it was going to be skin cancer. I will always
attribute the fact that I am still here today because my mom made me get a skin
check. Without it more than likely I wouldn’t be here. Melanoma is extremely
aggressive and there are not many treatments out there that can cure it once it
has advanced. I consider myself one of the lucky ones, as my doctor has told
me. If I would have waited another two years I would have been in an even
bigger fight for my life.
This is just the beginning of my
story and I look forward to sharing more thoughts, opinions, events, etc.
discussing skin cancer and melanoma in the future. J
