Medical Stories - Melanoma: Emily's Story

In this episode of Medical Stories docuseries, we meet Emily, a physician who cares for newborn babies. Emily shares her courageous story with the message of hope after being diagnosed with stage III melanoma.
Featuring renowned medical expert and consultant: Dr. John Kirkwood, Distinguished Service Professor at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
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[@3catmom844]

I was diagnosed when I was 25 years old. Excision and skin graft and 47 years later I am still here!

[@LisaMurphy]

I'll bet you were taking care of yourself. Melanoma tends not to recur in people who're on a great diet and who exercise.

[@Alien2799]

What stage was it?

[@3catmom844]

stage 3@@Alien2799

[@shantishanti1949]

I am writing end April 2024 - I hope Emily that this message finds you recovered or recovering. Thank you for helping others by sharing your story. 🙏🙏

[@Annie497]

Best wishes and prayers for this beautiful woman with an amazing outlook on living in the moment. She has a loving and supportive husband and hope for her future. Live life to the fullest, each and every day.

[@sdd123]

Thank Gosh you caught it.

[@petriciahice4838]

I was just diagnosed with melanoma. I was blessed to catch my melanoma very early. Wide excesion surgery & hopefully all i will need to do

[@Alien2799]

How deep was the melanoma?

[@101HippyGirl]

Good luck. I have it too. Just got lymph nodes removed

[@JohannesLootDejongh]

Good luck ,we with you all the way ,from South Africa.

[@edranetz]

I was diagnosed with Stage 1B melanoma on 11/7/23. I am getting wide excision surgery on 12/4/23. I have never had any kind of cancer before. I realize even after it is excised it could come back somewhere else. I am scared.

[@lifeofaditi4553]

What was the first symptom you had?

[@edranetz]

@@lifeofaditi4553 I noticed my freckle which had been red turned brown.

[@dar7230]

I was diagnosed 3b 8n December on rib cage and after reading side effects,viewing many videos, I am too scared to undergo treatment. I'm single.no dependents, leaning towards no excision or immunotherapy. Then I'll just wait and worry

[@michman2]

Don't be scared. I had Seminoma in '92 and Nodular Melanoma S3 in '16. You're likely to be with us for a long time.

[@Alien2799]

I was diagnosed in January this year. I will go for a lymph biopsy just to make sure it did not spread. We are way more likely to die of other causes. I know it can be scary. With time you will move on.

[@Alien2799]

What a brave woman. I have stage 1. I was cut out but I want to go for a biopsy to make sure that there is nothing in my lymph nodes. What are the markers in your melanoma biopsy pathology that are indicative of a worse prognosis?

[@michman2]

I was diagnosed in early 2016 with Nodular Melanoma, Stage III. I received Yervoy (Ipilimumab) for 3 years. It's Feb, '24 and I don't expect a recurrence. I decided to keep the lymph node bed in my thigh - very wise decision as this level of surgery is much more invasive than the primary surgery.

[@Alien2799]

Great news! Were you BRAF?

[@shantishanti1949]

Can you reply re BRAF Hope you’re still well no further M. 🙏

[@101HippyGirl]

I just had 3 lymph nodes and a salivary gland removed that had melanoma. We Pray they got it all. But I will be getting Keytruda in case more is in my body

[@avan7171]

I was diagnosed just a few months ago with stage 2A. Hopefully the Mohs wide excision got everything.

[@fionainnes-smith2706]

I’m going tomorrow to have the flap of my MOHS surgery “debulked”. Why did I watch this? It’s scared the heck out of me!

[@user-jy4mw3um7v]

😮😮😮😮😮

[@isthatallthereis7541]

For me the beauty of life is that every single one of us is ever so unique; we are each here with purpose, regardless of the length of our journey; and we have a loving Creator who welcomes us to our eternal home, when that time beckons. Our Lord, Christ Jesus, told us if we but have faith the size of a mustard seed . . . May you be filled with an ever growing deep, deep peace that all things are and shall work for your good, regardless. I look forward to that great gathering at the River of Life where all arms extend in love and peace, without end. Thank you for sharing your story. I understand.

[@markcrew3696]

Thinking and praying for Emily. I'm not trying to be critical but as a Doctor how could you ignore a mole that big until it started bleeding to do anything about it? I had it on my back and freaked out and when to the Doctor immediately and had it cut out at stage zero. Just the same Emily I'm thinking about you and your family, You will beat this.