One of Our Own on Stand Up to Cancer~ SU2C!

I wasn't going to watch the SU2C show last night, because I didn't want to cry and be depressed about cancer after the crazy week at work that I had. My fiance had the TV on and I was surfing Pinterest, (my new obsession!), and it came on.  I didn't turn it, but I was half paying attention to it.  Then, I found myself drawn in.  I loved how it showed a few cancer warriors, and told their stories. On the screen the entire show, they would have a newsfeed scrolling on the bottom, with info about the type of cancer that was being showed.

The celebrities were great!  I loved Samuel L. Jackson, who referring to beating cancer, said, "Cancer is one big bully. But if we all stand up to cancer together, we can kick its ass so good, it'll never come back."

 
I also loved the little boy, Justin, who said,  "I don't even think about me passing away.  But if I do, I'm taking my Legos with me!"

There were cancer warriors sharing their stories, and there was Taylor Swift with her song "Ronan", about a 3-year-old Valley boy who died of cancer in 2011.  And of course Tim McGraw had to sing his amazing song, "Live Like You Were Dying", and make me cry more!  It was all very touching and emotional.

 I continued to watch, and was absolutely taken by surprise when a young, beautiful women appeared on the screen.  She was stunning.  I didn't realize at first, but then I heard that she is a melanoma warrior!  I was full of emotion about this!  Hillary Quinn Kind is a 25 year old women, who is battling the beast and is on national television telling her story!  There were the melanoma facts scrolling at the bottom of the screen as Hillary sat with her doctor and asked if she were to stop treatment, how long would she have left to live?  A year?  Her doctor told her that she did not believe she would even have a year.  She was beautiful with her bald head and mega watt smile.  There she was skydiving, something she had always wanted to do, as I bawled.  It was amazing!  I was floored when they said she is from Detroit, Michigan!  Right next door to me!  I was so proud of her and felt an instant connection like I do with fellow melanoma warriors. She told her story.  It is the story of so many of my friends.

Thank you Hillary, for sharing your story with the world, to raise awareness for our horrible cancer, and for funds for research.  Thank you for giving melanoma a voice.

 Her words from last night have stayed with me today...

 " I just keep going, keep fighting, and something great will come of it.”~ Hillary Quinn Kind

Invincible

 I didn't know what melanoma was all about, until the dreaded day I was diagnosed.  It wasn't supposed to happen to ME.  I am brunette, brown eyed with no family history.  Not the usual skin type to get melanoma.  I tanned fairly easy, sometimes burned, but if I was careful, I didn't always.  I thought I was invincible.  We usually do when we are doing something we want to do, even though we know we shouldn't be doing it! Like eating junk food, smoking, drinking, etc.  In hindsight, I had enough warning.  Warnings I chose to ignore, because I didn't think they applied to ME.

I ignored my family.  I ignored my fiance.  I ignored my patients.  I ignored the warning on the form I signed when I first signed up to tan indoors.  I ignored the itchy mole on my tummy as I layed out.  

Then, one day, I noticed a large mole I had always had on the back of my leg had changed quite drastically.

"How long has THAT been there?"  I wondered, as I put on the tanning lotion to do 12 minutes in the tanning bad.  It kind of startled me but, I still thought I was invincible and I proceeded to tan.   Singing and dancing in the stand up bed.  That day kind of haunts me now.  I had melanoma and I was singing and dancing in a death bed, making it much worse, and totally oblivious to that fact.

I never went tanning again after that day.  I went home and I looked at the mole a little closer.  Then, I Googled skin cancer, and that lead me to melanoma.  My mole looked just like the picture I was looking at of melanoma that Google provided me.  (My mole is pictured below). And, just like that....

I wasn't invincible anymore.

I would give anything to go back and undo all the damage I have caused to my skin.  I would never tan and destroy my skin for vanity.  I love this video.  It is a must watch and a must share. I wish I could have told my 16 year old self, NOT to do some of the stupid things that I have done, but mostly I wish I could tell myself not to tan.  It has changed my life FOREVER.

So, before YOU tan, ask yourself this question. "Am I invincible?"  And think about what you would tell your 16 year old self.

XO
 

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A Brother's Love

I am friends with a lot of awesome people.

This particular friend doesn't have melanoma himself, but he has been greatly affected by it. His brother, Jeff, passed away from melanoma and ever since, has been a great educator of melanoma awareness.   Al from Black is the New Pink, is a very special guy.  He started his blog to educate and put a stop to melanoma and to help him with the great loss of his brother.  Al was interviewed for UV Skinz recently and spoke about his brother.

Check out the interview here.

Great things ARE happening, Al, and I am very proud to stand with you.  Thanks for recognizing me as a voice for melanoma.  I am in great company :)  Here are a few of my fellow bloggers and melanoma butt kickers!

Susan @ Jillian Journey with Melanoma- A Mother's Story

Chelsea @ My Adventures with My Enemy Melanoma

Reverend Carol Taylor @ Attitude of Gratitude

Carolyn @ Dodged a Bullet-Fight Against Melanoma

Becca @ It's Only Melanoma

Erin @ Melanoma and the City

Rich @ Hotel Melanoma

Jessica @ 2 Battles with Melanoma in 28 Years

Just to name a few!  For a complete and up to date list, my friend Carol (from Attitude of Gratitude), has compiled a list that seems to be the most complete list I have come across.  She will gladly update it if you know of anyone not on there.  Please take the time to add these great educators to your list.

I will continue to educate about the dangers of melanoma, as will my friends.  We are not going to back down, until the day we can celebrate our victory against it!

Stay safe and don't forget to protect the skin you are in!