Skin cancer can be a daunting diagnosis, often shrouded in fear and uncertainty. Yet, within the challenge lies the potential for incredible resilience and hope. At our clinic, we have the privilege of witnessing many courageous journeys of individuals who have faced skin cancer head-on and emerged stronger. Their stories are not just testimonies of medical treatment but also of personal triumph, unwavering spirit, and the transformative power of early detection and supportive care.
In this article, we share a collection of inspiring stories shared by the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation at https://www.australianskincancerfoundation.org/patient-stories. By delving into their journeys, we aim to shed light on the real-life impact of skin cancer on it’s victims, and the friends and family who also are on this road with them. Through their experiences, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of proactive skin health.
Join us as we explore these remarkable stories, some of hope and resilience, others of sympathy and warning; and discover how early detection, effective treatment, and a positive outlook can make a world of difference in the fight against skin cancer.
Dean McHardie
“Growing up on the south coast of NSW, I spent a lot of my younger years at the beach without a care in the world. The surf and sun was what it was all about.
Unfortunately, that all changed.
At 38, I was a training officer, working with mine rescue teams as a retained firefighter with Fire & Rescue. I was loving life and family. And then I was diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on my right shoulder, with only one option given to me by the surgeon – a forequarter amputation. Not knowing what lay in front of me or even what a forequarter amputation was, or how a BCC could be this aggressive.
On the 23rd of December 2014, my life changed forever. After 12 hours of surgery, I was less one arm. No longer able to work in either of the fields I had worked in for many years, I faced a dilemma – what was next? How would I provide for my family? But the adventure had only just begun.
I kept thinking: how can this be, how is this possible? Why me? I’m sure I’m not the first person to ask themselves these questions, and I won’t be the last.
My journey as an amputee was only just beginning. Dealing with depression, I turned to running to cope with what had happened. I did numerous ultra marathons and triathlons and had the privilege of wearing the green and gold for Australia at para triathlons. That has been a major highlight.
But let me be a lesson. Get a skin check because this can happen to anyone.”
Renée Marchment
“My melanoma journey began when my beautiful daughter was just 10 weeks old. I had a mole on the back of my thigh that I noticed had changed during my pregnancy.
I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma and given a 40 – 60% chance of survival at 24 years of age. I was a new mum AND a cancer patient… my life was turned upside down.
My most extensive surgery was the removal of all the lymph nodes from my left groin where a cluster of tumours were found. […]
My survival is my inspiration to show my appreciation and endless gratitude for the care and treatment I have received from medical professionals.
I feel extremely lucky to call myself a Stage 3 survivor. This disease took my beautiful aunty from us far too soon in March of 2001 and I have also had many other loved ones affected by it.
I am a firm believer in the power of positivity. The power of the mind. Focusing on the positives of life instead of the negatives. I choose to be optimistic because it makes me feel better.
I know that, realistically, this isn’t always easy as the fear never leaves you, but I do try and project this and radiate my appreciation every day.
I truly believe that if you can surround yourself with the right people and attitude, powerful things can happen.
However, the reality of the current statistics of melanoma is so frightening with melanoma being the most common cancer of 15 to 39-year-old Australians. Melanoma kills one Australian every five hours. And that is heartbreaking.
I have hope though that one day there will be a cure for melanoma and am passionate and dedicated in helping researchers achieve this goal. I want to continue raising further awareness, to contribute to helping make a difference. Contribute to researching cures. Clinical care. To educating our youth and communities. To help show that protecting your skin is cooler than not!
I feel very fortunate to have so many beautiful people in my life! This has always been a positive for me during what was such a traumatic time. My family and friends surround me with love and support. Those sorts of situations can really show you who your true family and friends are, and also surprise you with new, meaningful connections.
I firmly believe that their love and support helped immensely during what was such a horrific time.
Monitoring our skin and getting a skin check with a professional is so important. My message to all is that early detection is the key to increasing survival rates! We need to protect our skin by being smart in the sun so we can be safe in the sun, too.”
Catherine Coysh
“I was only 15 years old when my life changed for the worse due to melanoma. I often think about how different things would be if it didn’t exist!
My dad, Kelvin Cue, was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma on the 19th December 1999. He had a mole on the back of his shoulder all his life. When the mole started to change in colour and size, and often bled, he went to get it checked out. The GP at the time put a tie around it so it would drop off (this would never happen now).
But it kept growing back and bleeding, so he went to a different GP. It was cut out, at a depth of 10cms, but unfortunately it was too late. He went through radiation for a period of time and also went on a trial, travelling weekly with the hope that something would work.
The process went from bad to worse very quickly and it spread through his body. Despite that, he put on a brave front and seemed quite well until the last week of his life when he couldn’t fight any longer.
When diagnosed, he was told he may live another one to five years. He passed away one day short of a year from the diagnosis. He was 41 years old.
This year further highlighted to me the importance of skin checks with my own mini-scare. I recently sought medical advice after detecting a sore patch of skin on the tip of my nose that would not heal. It was a basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The fact that I was hypervigilant meant they were able to get it before it developed into something more serious.
I am determined to raise awareness around the importance of prevention and early detection of skin cancer through sun safe practices and regular skin checks. In saying that, I understand that early detection is not always possible, and therefore I will continue to advocate for treatment trials to be rolled out in Australia to address this disparity.”
Please if you have any concerns, please call and let us know at Qutis skin check clinic at 5201 7030
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