Yesterday, while waiting in line in a convenience store, I saw a beautiful, young girl, about 17 or so, I’m guessing. She looked perfect, beautiful face, pretty blue eyes and a smile. An absolute beautiful young woman. She was what some people would call wholesome looking, only much more. No visible tattoos, no multiple body piercing. The only thing wrong, seriously wrong, was her tan. I thought about going to her to tell her to stay out of the sun, because of the danger of melanoma cancer, but she would probably think I was a crazy old lady. So, I said nothing. Just hoped she knows about the real danger of tanning. My daughter-in-law can tell her from personal experience.
Jolaina, my daughter-in-law, was diagnosed with melanoma in May 2009. Jolaina is a young 39 year old wife and mother of two teenagers. She is at stage 4 melanoma. There isn’t a stage 5. The last few years have been extremely rough on her and all those who love her. She has had multiple tumors removed, Il2 therapy at the University of Michigan, high dose chemo and so many MRIs that a healthy person would not accumulate in a life time. In addition to the tumors that have been removed, the melanoma is in her brain and one eye. But, she keeps on going with a smile. Jo is a beautiful person inside and out. She participated in clinical trials at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Once the cancer was discovered in her brain, she did not qualify for the trials. Again, to a case study at Henry Ford Hospital. More surgery, more radiation, more steroids. Currently, she is waiting for another MRI in July to consider a craniotomy. Her Doctor told her she was a record breaker. She doesn’t want to break records. She wants to live to be a very old lady. I pray she will.
This “skin cancer” can be deadly. Jolaina noticed a small mole on her upper right arm. The biopsy came back as melanoma. People with melanoma, diagnosed in its early stages, can have a 90 plus percent of survival. When diagnosed at its most advanced stages, the rate is 20 to 30 percent. Is it worth the risk to have a golden brown tan? Do the words “golden brown” bring to mind something being fried. It should.
Please, people, look it up, read about it and be watchful for melanoma symptoms. The information I gave here is given with Jolaina’s permission and taken from the Dukehealth.org website. I pray for her every day. I pray people also heed the warnings about melanoma skin cancer.
