Pediatric Melanoma Shannon's Story

My melanoma journey began in 2015, when I was 13 years old. Immediately, my life completely changed and middle school classrooms were replaced with the hospital oncology floor. After three surgeries, I went through a rough year of interferon treatments, and I was in the clear. Since my initial melanoma was on my scalp and they had to obtain clear margins, I then went through plastic surgery to close the scar area and get as close to a full head of hair as possible.

After completing that process, all there was left to do was get routine scans and pray that the melanoma didnt come back. Six months later, though, when I was 15, it did, and once again classrooms were replaced with hospital rooms.

This time, though, instead of traveling only an hour away to see my oncologist in Orlando, I started commuting the nearly 4-hour plane ride to St. Judes Memphis, Tennessee to see a melanoma specialist. I was fortunate that I never had to stay in Memphis longer than two weeks at a time, most of my visits were about four days, and my team in Orlando worked with my team in Memphis so I could receive treatment locally, as well. This second round of treatment was thankfully not as rough as the interferon I had received before and went much more smoothly. The only side effect I had this time was that the immunotherapy gave me hypothyroidism, and while I will be on medication for the rest of my life for it, I will gladly take it over melanoma. After a year of treatment and two more surgeries, I was once again cancer free. I am now 20-, and 53-months cancer free! Im currently in school to become a child life specialist and spend my days at dance class and raising butterflies.

Pediatric melanoma awareness is important to me because awareness helps to progress in research so we can learn more about the disease. We know that sun exposure is the leading cause of melanoma in adults, but the cause for pediatric melanoma is still widely unknown. Raising awareness will increase what is available for research, so we can have a better understanding of this disease and be able to not only prevent it in adults, but in children as well.

Ocular Melanoma Nicolette's Story

Have you ever looked at a rainbow in the sky and wondered if it was sent from an angel above? In September 2020, I saw a beautiful rainbow and it was as much a sign as it was a life saver. That was the day I realized I had lost vision in my left eye. At the age of 22, newly graduated from Kutztown University and ready to take that next step into the world, life was about to change. The world had different plans for me. My life changed completely on September 28th, 2020, when I was diagnosed with ocular melanoma. I was treated at Wills Eye Hospital by Shields and Shields Oncology where I did plaque radiation. As of today, the plaque has been successful, but resulting in the complete loss of vision in my left eye. This experience has taught me so much about myself and how life can change in an instant. It has been hard. Physically I feel amazing, yet mentally I have to deal with vision loss, being nervous about having to drive in the rain or at night. It truly is a mind game, but I can say I am playing it and forever will.

I would be lying if I said I did not worry every single day; worry about cancer spreading, worry about my six month scans, worry about something happening to my good eye worry, worry, worry. But I have to say, what has gotten me through is the people with whom I surround myself. The people who allow me to see the beauty: my mom, dad and sister Brianna are my rocks. They lift me up every day and are my why. My fiancé Nik keeps me going daily and never lets go of my hand. My friends, family, doctors and nurses who take care of me and everyone in between are the reasons I keep on keeping on.

At the beginning of this journey, so many people asked me what they could do for me, and the answer is still the same. What can you do? Please get your eyes examined and dilated! Do it for me; it could save your life just like that beautiful rainbow did for me. I wake up every day and can see the beauty in this world (even with one eye, I still see how great it is). Ocular melanoma would never take over my life, it only gives me more of reason to keep living. Eye am blessed, Eye am strong, and Eye believe. With nearly 2,000 people diagnosed with ocular melanoma in the US each year, its so important to take part in the MRFs #EyeGetDilated campaign and schedule your dilated eye exam today!

Cutaneous Melanoma Summer's Story

I swam my entire life, from 18 months old until age 24. It was always outside and for, at least, 2 hours at a time. And it was never with sunscreen. Swimming took me to the Olympic Games in 1992 where I won 4 Olympic medals, 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

Growing up we didnt have a lot of sunscreen. I remember using sunscreen in the 80s but I would only use it on vacation. Even if I had a training camp in Hawaii, I would train without sunscreen but use my sunscreen if we went to the beach to hang out after training. I never associated sunscreen or sun protection with training.

In 2013, my husband noticed a black mole on my right calf. He urged me to get it checked out. It took me an entire year to finally do it and I only had it checked as an afterthought at the end of my dermatology appointment in 2014. I had forgotten all about asking the doctor but as I was walking out of the exam room, I asked him if I should get it looked at. He wasnt concerned about my mole but said, We can take it off or we can do it the next time you are back. I hadnt been to see this doctor in over two years so I figured I might as well do it then. Seven days later I received the call. That is when I heard the term malignant melanoma for the first time and where my journey began.

Since that day in 2014, I have had two more melanoma in situs on my right triceps area. Both very small, unassuming and caught so early that I didnt need to worry. I started 2014 with barely a scar on my body and now I have a road map of my life in the sun.

I have had to rework my relationship with the sun. I used to love the way the sun made me feel. I loved that moment when the sun would hit your skin, warming you up with a giant hug-like feeling. That wasnt the feeling anymore. I learned a ton about when, how and why to protect yourself from sun exposure.

My kids may think I am nuts at times, but they can thank me for never having a sunburn. We still go outside; we still play in the sun but with healthy knowledge of how to protect ourselves. Thats why Im so honored to participate in the MRFs 2022 #GetNaked campaign. I want to help spread this same knowledge to everyone you can still enjoy your time outdoors and in sunshine but knowing how to protect yourself and the importance of sun safety can make the world of difference!