Sally’s Melanoma Story
This May we have been shining a light on melanoma skin cancer in honour of Melanoma Awareness Month. This is a cause that is particularly important to us. Not only do we have a lot of staff working outdoors every day, but we also have a personal connection to melanoma as a company.
Sally, one of Cathedral’s Hygiene’s sales managers, was diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma in 2021 after noticing a change in a freckle on her arm. After going through surgery and immunotherapy, unfortunately the Melanoma progressed to Stage 4. Sally is very passionate about raising awareness for Melanoma, prevention and early detection, and has very kindly shared her story with us. Here is Sally’s inspiring Melanoma story:
My Melanoma Story – Sally Jay
In the early spring of 2021, I noticed a change in what I thought was a freckle on my arm. A weird red pimple appeared on it and after a while it started to bleed which was the point I contacted my GP. After inspection, I was fast tracked to have the mole removed in hospital a week later. I waited 10 days for the results believing it couldn’t possibly be a Melanoma as it wasn’t a mole, it wasn’t black, it wasn’t massive, but how wrong I was. The biopsy report came back and confirmed that it was indeed a Melanoma.
I had to undergo surgery to remove more area from around the site and also have lymph nodes removed from my armpit under general anaesthetic. Thankfully, the reports showed that my Melanoma was a Stage 1, and that there was no sign of spread to my lymph nodes.
“Things moved quickly and before I could blink, I was inside the PET Scanner pondering where else the Melanoma would be found.”
I tried to carry on with my life as best I could with a gratitude for catching my cancer early until December 2022 when a small pea sized lump appeared underneath my primary scar. Upon further investigation and another surgery to remove the lump, this too came back as Melanoma. Now my gratitude for Stage 1 cancer had gone and I was faced with the prospect of my new Stage 3 diagnosis. Things moved quickly and before I could blink, I was inside the PET Scanner pondering where else the Melanoma would be found. My results came back quickly, and I was relived that despite the spread in my skin, there was no further cancer detected anywhere in my body or brain. My plan was to start Immunotherapy straight away for a period of 12 months, and to have routine 3 monthly scans for the next 5 years. Immunotherapy is a relatively new drug which has shown some promise for Melanoma patients as unfortunately, Chemotherapy doesn’t work for us. This cancer knows how to beat it, so immunotherapy is the only way.
The immunotherapy took place every 4 weeks for a few months, and I was finding the side effects OK. My life was very different by now because I obviously developed a huge fear of the sun. The sun! What used to be one of my favourite things about life – glorious long sunny days, lying on the beach, living carefree and enjoying myself. Breathing in the warm air and smiling that finally the bleak winter was behind us. Now there is a very different version of me. A new me who must stay in the shade most of the time. A me who must religiously plaster myself in the highest factor suncream possible. A me who has to set a timer for how long I am in a swimming pool or exposed to the direct sunlight on a walk. I look forward to summer evenings now instead of summer days when I can check my UV app and see that I am safe.
“I sat with my parents by my side and held their hands as my Oncologist had to tell me that the cancer had made its way to the lymph nodes under my arm, and also to a distant lymph node in my chest.”
In December 2023 my routine 3 monthly scan showed progression in my cancer. I sat with my parents by my side and held their hands as my Oncologist had to tell me that the cancer had made its way to the lymph nodes under my arm, and also to a distant lymph node in my chest. Hello, Stage 4! I can’t really describe what it feels like to have a Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis. In the first instance it creates panic, stress, anxiety, despair, shock. This is followed not long after by reflection, and a sadness for the dreams you never got to fulfil. Little things like “I can’t believe I have never visited Italy” weighed so heavy on my mind even in the midst of my entire life falling apart around me. Italy? Who knew?
“It’s funny how many people tell you that you’re brave and strong and that you’re a warrior, and that they wouldn’t be able to get out of bed if it were them that this was happening to, but the brain is a great thing, and the human instinct to fight for survival just kicks in.”
With the help and endless support of my partner, family, and friends I dusted myself off and prepared for a new level of immunotherapy. A double combination dose that can potentially destory massive parts of your body, but you all know what the alternative was, so I had no choice than to suck it up and get it done. It’s funny how many people tell you that you’re brave and strong and that you’re a warrior, and that they wouldn’t be able to get out of bed if it were them that this was happening to, but the brain is a great thing, and the human instinct to fight for survival just kicks in.
The immunotherapy began and I managed to tolerate all doses. A sense of pride in my body that it coped and gave me the best chance was a weird feeling. The side effects hit me for six and after collapsing in hospital (a wonderful place to collapse and perfect timing), I was told that the immunotherapy had now blown my pituitary gland to pieces and left me with a lifelong illness called Adrenal Insufficiency or Addisons Disease. I take steriods now 3 times a day and will have to do so for the rest of my life. My body can no longer cope with stress and doesn’t produce cortisol, so I have to carry an emergency injection with me wherever I go. If I ever feel poorly or have a stressful situation on the horizon like moving house, flying, or even a visit to the dentist I have to double dose my steriods. This has meant the dreaded weight gain has kicked in, and as important as it is for me to take these tablets to stay alive, it doesn’t stop me resenting them. It’s a real love / hate relationship. Very similar to my relationship with the sun.
“Since starting the new double dose immunotherapy, or liquid gold as it’s known in the Melanoma community, I am pleased to say that my scans now show no evidence of active disease anywhere in my body or brain.”
Since starting the new double dose immunotherapy, or liquid gold as it’s known in the Melanoma community, I am pleased to say that my scans now show no evidence of active disease anywhere in my body or brain. Doctors don’t use the term in remission anymore, as many cancers can, and will come back at some point. This is something that I live with every day. Will it come back?? When? Where? How? I feel so grateful that the treatment has worked for me. I see so many new Melanoma friends dying of this awful disease. Melanoma is often wrongly dismissed as an easy cancer, or a cancer that is a better option than other types of cancer. Melanoma is deadly, it kills over 3000 people every year in the UK alone. I was unfortunate that despite catching it early, it still spread in my body, but early detection is still key with all cancers.
“I think being given a Stage 4 diagnosis has created such an appreciation for my life.”
My relationship with the sun has changed again since upgrading to Stage 4. Now, I have learned to love the sun again. Safely. I think being given a Stage 4 diagnosis has created such an appreciation for my life. I want to suck in every single minute and appreciate everything I can. I do feel like I’m in a constant rush and have no patience to wait for anything anymore. I tell my family and friends I love them every time we speak, just little things like that crept into my brain to remember when the oncologists’ words were ringing in my ears.
“Please look after your skin, it’s the biggest organ you have.”
Please look after you skin, it’s the biggest organ you have. I let myself burn in the sun, used sunbeds on a handful of occasions, and didn’t ever wear suncream unless I was abroad. I’m paying the price of those decisions now. I have to listen to people talk about how amazing their tan is when they’re on holiday, I have to listen to people talk about sunbathing like it’s the most important thing in the world to them. Half of me is resentful and jealous because I no longer have that option, and I genuinely do miss it, but the other half of me, the new half, knows how dangerous that mentality is and so I sit quietly under my parasol, the new version of me.
PS – I went to Italy, and it was absolutely incredible!
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