Nicoles Story...

For as long as I can remember, I have spent the months of July and August away on trips, flying off to whatever beach or city I havent visited yetand the summer of 2021 was no different. One of my last trips was the week before my birthday, August 27, and I visited my dermatologist right before leaving. During my skin check, she decided that one spot looked different than everything else on my body. That spot happened to be on my left cheek. I always thought it was just a freckle, but now it was being biopsied.

Fast forward to the last day of my vacation, which was the day before my birthday, August 26. I was out for a walk along the beach when my phone rang at 7AM. It was my dermatologist calling to tell me that the biopsy came back as melanoma, and I would have to have surgery as soon as possible to remove it. I had to hold on to the boardwalk railing when I heard her words as I swallowed the lump in my throat. I, at 30, out of nowhere, had cancer.

My melanoma surgery was scheduled for September 13 and my plastic surgery was on September 17. My left cheek had to be massively reconstructed due to the depth and superficial spreading of the melanoma. MOHS surgery wouldnt be enough, so my doctor told me I had to have a wide local excision. My mom, who has been a nurse for years and is bothered by nothing, almost fainted when she heard the doctor explain what my multiple surgeries would be like. My mom is a cancer survivor as well and I know how much it bothered her to know that one of her four children was now facing that same battle.

The dermatologist who conducted my surgery asked if it could be used for research purposes and I immediately agreed. I wanted to do anything I could to help others in similar situations as mine. My parents instilled in me and my three brothers at a young age the value of helping others and giving back; I was proud to sign my name to be a part of this research study.

After surgery, the more I healed, the more I realized it was just the physical part that was healingeverything else was going to take a lot more time. All that I had become accustomed to was changing. What people may not realize about melanoma, or any cancer diagnosis, is that its never really over. With a melanoma diagnosis, I have my skin checked every three months. I am also at risk for ocular melanoma as I have spots in both of my eyes that are checked every six months. In the past year since my initial diagnosis, I have had two biopsies, both of which came back as atypical spots that I had to have WLEs to remove. Some patients have multiple biopsies in a single skin check. There is also the emotional and psychological toll that a cancer diagnosis takes, not just on the patient but also on everyone around them. It is not an exaggeration when I say that my entire life changed in a year. I wake up every day more grateful than ever that I am still here. My faith, three brothers, parents, boyfriend, and dog, Lola (LUVs unofficial mascot), have kept me going.

While healing from surgery and researching ways to protect my skin beyond sunscreen, I found beads that change color in the UV light from the sun. I started to make bracelets that feature these beads, as a reminder to apply (or reapply) sunscreen if the bead changed color, which means UV exposure. These bracelets have become my small business, LUV. We have also worked with other brands, like Ethos, to make clothing; its black because that is the color of the skin cancer ribbon. Our bracelets come in all colors with different designs and words, because why not! Right away, I was fortunate to partner with The Melanoma Research Foundation and 10% of sales on each purchase is donated year-round to the organization. Donations are what makes a difference when it comes to potential treatments and research, as well as awareness. Because my melanoma was found in a routine skin check, I am constantly urging and reminding others to get their skin checked and to, of course, wear sunscreen every single day.

Your gifts advance the MRFs work in the fight against melanoma. Your generosity saves the lives of people like Nicole. Can we count on you to help again by returning your 2023 membership renewal gift today? Of course, we know you have your own reasons and powerful stories for why melanoma research is so important to you and those you love. Every day, the MRF is fighting for Nicole, and it is fighting for you.

We are asking you for your continued support so we can make more life-saving progress together. With over 197,000 Americans expected to be diagnosed with melanoma this year, we need all the help we can get to continue making advances in education and outreach, research, and in improving treatments and finding a cure for all forms of melanoma.

As a generous MRF supporter, you:

Accelerate new treatments through the research pipeline to get them to people who are running out of options. More than 18 FDA-approved treatments are now available!

Advance promising new combination therapies, many of which got their start thanks to research funded by the MRF and those who support us generously, including you.

Provide critical online resources that save lives and build a community of survivors through events, awareness campaigns, support groups, education and more.

Thanks to our generous friends like you, the MRF is leading the way in all these efforts and more. Because of you, there are more melanoma survivors and a stronger reason for hope every day.

Please send your annual renewal gift for 2023 today, and remember, PROGRESS is POWER!

Sincerely,

Nicole & the LUV Beads Team