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WithinMySkin

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Bio

I was 31, in the middle of changing careers in healthcare. Even though I was in the field of healthcare, I never paid attention to my OWN health. I was simply too busy – work was my life. But I will never make that excuse again!!

I had this mole on my leg my whole life, but slowly it became raised over a few month’s time. It had grown so much that one day, while shaving my legs, I totally cut the top of it off. Weeks later, it hadn’t healed, and I finally conceded to seeing a dermatologist in April of 2015.

Wide local excision, SLNB with one node positive, 2.1 mm deep, ulcerated and BRAF+. So I’m stage IIIB before the diagnosis and the surgeries have time to sink in the seriousness of the situation. I tried to go back to work, but taking care of patients became an emotional whirlwind for me. I saw myself in every patient, and I couldn’t concentrate on the task at hand. I decided to move back home to NH and get out of the world of taking care of others. For once, I needed to take care of myself first.

In November, pathology came back positive on an in-situ melanoma. My oncologist recommended a CLND due to the recurrence. In total, 6 out of 30 lymph nodes removed came back positive for melanoma. Now stage IIIC and healing well from the last surgery, I will be starting Sylatron in February.

I’ve vowed to take responsibility of my health. Now that I have been both a healthcare provider and a patient, I want this to be my first and last time I am in this situation. We all react differently to such a terrible situation, but I feel as though this has truly changed my life. I have started a blog to keep myself motivated and to help others with cancer. If you need inspiration, stop by anytime. http://www.withinmyskin.com

Display Name

WithinMySkin

I am

the patient

Initial Diagnosis Month

April

Initial Diagnosis Year

2015

Stage at Diagnosis

Stage 3

Current Stage

Stage 3