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April’s Story (Melanoma)

April's Story MelanomaI am a 31-year-old wife and mother of 2 daughters, 12 and 5 years old. One day, when my husband was playing with my hair, he noticed a mole on top of my head that I have had my whole life was changing colors. He took a picture to show me, and it was an ugly purple color and bigger than I remembered. I didn’t think anything of it.

Three months later, I decided to see a dermatologist about it because it was still growing. It took a month to see him. On my 31st birthday, July 9th, 2015, I had the mole removed “just in case.” I remember sitting in the office, looking at the information posters and thinking, “Happy Birthday, you have cancer.” I got the call 4 days later that I had stage 2b melanoma.

I had to have 3 surgeries in one month. First was the wide excision of the original spot, then reconstructive surgery to fix the hole from the first surgery. Then I had to have 34 lymph nodes removed from my neck because it had spread. Currently, I am stage 3a, and I am going through treatment to prevent a recurrence. Every day I am thankful for my husband seeing that mole. I will not give up this fight, and I always encourage people to have suspicious marks on the skin checked and to always wear sunscreen.

April
Utah
Submitted 03/12/2016

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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2 comments

  1. Robyn giles

    Such a strong and inspirational person!!! #cancersucks and your showed that fight you were coming with arms swinging you had so much to fight for especially only being 31 your beautiful girls and your amazing husband helped with your strength but I think through this fight you found a whole new side of you!! A strength you never knew you would have to use but you did it girl! And we couldn’t be prouder of you and your fight and the fight you continue day in and day out to help spread awareness and continue to fight your own battle with it!!! We love you so much and couldn’t imagine a day in this life without you

  2. Brigitte Estelle Gaudreault

    … Inspiring words !! Thank you April!
    God bless!!

    With love from Quèbec, Canada
    Brigitte Estelle

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