Can you talk about your melanoma diagnosis?

I had my first diagnosis of melanoma 13 years ago, in 2011, and my second one in 2019. I received my third diagnosis earlier this year (2024), so I'm currently dealing with that. The first two were both stage zero melanoma, which are relatively minor in the grander scheme of things.
 

However, the biopsy in April revealed this third one to be Stage 2, an invasive melanoma. This is the first time I've had to confront something of this severity, and it’s been quite a journey over the last six months. I’ve read some other stories and know people who have had more advanced melanoma, so I realize that I’m not facing the same degree of challenges they are.
 

However, like everything else, I always worry that it could be worse. I’m working on putting it all into perspective, it’s something more than I’m used to dealing with but I try to remember that other people are facing the same or bigger things. I try to keep focused on the positives as much as I can. Having resources like those on the Save Your Skin Foundation website is comforting, where I can see other people's stories and learn from their experiences.

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How has your support system played a role in your journey?

Since my second melanoma in 2019, I’ve found that sharing my experience with more people has been beneficial. Through this sharing, people began sharing their own experiences as well so I was able to connect with people who have gone through similar challenges. Around the same time, I became aware of the Save Your Skin Foundation through my friend Yvonne and her husband Bob. We talked about their experiences, and Yvonne became a good person to sound off ideas with. It was the first time I was seeing an oncologist, and she shared various experiences she had with oncologists, some good and some not so good. She was a really valuable resource to me during that time.
 

Since then, I have had a couple of other close friends who have been touched by melanoma whom I’ve been able to share experiences with. Lastly, I have close friends here in Vancouver who I can count on for transportation to and from surgeries. I feel fortunate to have supportive friends who provide both encouragement and practical help when I need to go to my appointments.

What does being an advocate mean to you?

To me, being an advocate means sharing what I’ve learned to help others. I use my platform to educate people about what I’ve learned, such as the ABCDE rule for checking for melanoma and the importance of sun protection. I often post pictures where I wear long sleeves and pants, emphasizing how these habits have helped keep me safe. I don’t want to overdo it, but I see this as an opportune time to make a difference. That’s also why I wanted to get involved with Move for Melanoma this year, to educate others on its importance and to get more people involved with a cause that’s close to my heart.

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What message would you give to someone facing a new diagnosis?

Reach out to whoever you can. In 2019, I posted about my diagnosis on Facebook for the first time and I was overwhelmed by the amount of support and encouragement I received. It’s not something I usually do; people often just share the good stuff on social media. But sometimes, it’s important to share the real stuff that’s happening and I’ve found that more often than not people will show up for you. Reaching out can look like talking to people one-on-one or even just posting on social media to allow the people in your life to know what you’re going through.