Meet June Ambassador, Jenn!
Today our June Ambassador, Jenn Schultz, is taking over the Sun Safety blog to share her skin cancer story and words of encouragement and advice. The below post is written by Jenn in her own words.
You never think it’s going to happen to you...until it does.
Skin cancer was no different for me. I cringe thinking back on all the times I joked about being “the poster child for skin cancer” because of my fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. I had so many misconceptions about sun safety and believed in so many sun myths that circulate as if they’re facts. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I began to learn that I had so much more to learn.
I was taking a health class to meet my general physical education credits when I was assigned to do a report on skin cancer. This is when I not only learned that there are different types of skin cancer but also the ABCDEs of what to look for. I had no idea how fateful this assignment would end up being.
Two years later, I was getting ready for work when I noticed a mole on my right shoulder that hadn’t always been there. It was slightly bigger around than the eraser on the end of a pencil, asymmetrical in appearance and not uniform in color. Thanks to that college health class, I knew in my gut that I needed to get it looked at as soon as possible.
I made an appointment with a dermatologist who took one look at the mole, rested his hand on my shoulder, and thanked me for coming in and showing it to him. That was the first moment it really sank in how serious that mole might be.
“At each of my skin checks, we were removing multiple moles for biopsy. Many of those would come back moderately atypical which meant I would have to come in and have more of the area around the moles removed.”
No matter what I was expecting, nothing could have prepared me to hear the words “You have cancer” less than a week later. I was at work when I got the call and stepped out into the hall for a more private conversation with my doctor. Those three words were like a punch to the gut and to this day, I can’t remember anything else from the entire conversation.
I was very fortunate that my melanoma was caught early. I was diagnosed with Stage 1b and scheduled for surgery just over a week later. In addition to removing the melanoma, they removed two lymph nodes to be sure the cancer hadn’t spread. It had not. Less than two weeks after being diagnosed with melanoma, I was “cancer-free”.
Initially, I felt a lot of relief that we had caught the melanoma so early and it was treated fairly easily. What I didn’t expect was the feelings of guilt that came with it. So many people diagnosed with cancer went through longer treatments with more serious side effects. My only ongoing treatment was regular skin checks every three months. Yet, the farther out from my original diagnosis I got, the more like a cancer patient I felt.
At each of my skin checks, we were removing multiple moles for biopsy. Many of those would come back moderately atypical which meant I would have to come in and have more of the area around the moles removed. This would ensure I had clear margins (and melanoma wouldn’t occur in that location). I developed crippling anxiety and paralyzing fear that my melanoma would come back. In my mind, it wasn’t a matter of if but when.
“Prioritize your mental health and find a community that understands what you’re going through.”
About four years ago (two years after the initial melanoma diagnosis), I began to see a therapist. She helped me manage the anxiety and to live fully in the pockets of time between skin checks. Then two years ago, I really leaned into the community of cancer survivors and thrivers. It’s incredibly powerful to have people who can understand what you’re going through. My friends and family have been so supportive, but they can’t fully relate to what having cancer feels like.
In March, I was diagnosed with melanoma for a second time. I had just reached my 5-year mark NED (no evidence of disease) in January of 2020, so it hit hard. I had almost graduated to annual skin checks and was suddenly right back where I started 6 years ago. How was this my life? Is this what I had to expect from now on? I could not have gotten through it without my cancer community. It’s truly the best club that nobody chooses to belong to.
If I could give advice to anyone experiencing skin cancer, it would be this: prioritize your mental health and find a community that understands what you’re going through. When you have cancer, it’s easy to focus on the physical aspect of it, but it takes a tremendous toll on your mental and emotional health as well. Many people struggle more with life after cancer than they do during treatment. In treatment, you have a plan and something to focus on: surviving. Cancer changes you, and life after cancer doesn’t come with a plan. It can be really hard, but you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and know there’s an entire community here for you.
Want to connect with Jenn? Follow her on Instagram!