In the summer of 2018, my wife was diagnosed with melanoma. In fact, the motivation for her to seek screening earlier came when a very good friend of ours was also diagnosed in early 2018. 

My wife had noticed a suspicious mole on her stomach and thought she might get it checked out at some point. We vacation in Hawaii every year in October and we have a friend who is a dermatologist in Kona. After some concern about the mole, my wife thought she would simply have our friend look at it in October. Only a matter of weeks after her suspicion of the mole, a very close friend of ours had a significant scare of Stage 3 melanoma in almost the same place on her stomach as my wife's mole. Thankfully that friend was able to quickly and efficiently be treated and the stage was reduced from 3 to stage 1. This prompted my wife to seek attention very quickly. She in fact was diagnosed with melanoma as well. 

The diagnosis hit her very hard. I was even in a fair bit of denial about it because it is mentally and emotionally easier to assume the best, rather than the worst. My wife was quickly treated and now has a very new respect and understanding for the need to be diligent with any concern. I have learned to approach things differently as skin cancer is a very real issue, not to be taken the least bit lightly. I failed to fully support her when she needed it and I definitely won't make that mistake ever again. 

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