Tuesday, June 19, 2012

My Story- Where It All Began

Daughter. Sister. Girlfriend. Friend. Family Member. College Student. Hard worker. Shopaholic J Cancer Survivor. These are only a few of the words that describe who I am as a person.
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