Before 2019 Gary and Leah Adams – father and daughter – didn’t protect their skin from harmful UV rays. They did not wear sunscreen, and Leah enjoyed her tanning bed membership where she enjoyed the ‘healthy’ glow of her skin. In 2019, Gary, aged 60, and Leah, then 26, were diagnosed with melanoma within months of each other.
Gary’s wife, and Leah’s mom, initially found a suspicious mole on his back in August of 2019. After a visit to the dermatologist and the biopsy returning as stage zero, he followed protocol getting skin checks regularly. Unfortunately, in January 2021Gary’s cancer returned as stage four metastatic melanoma, having spread to his brain and lungs. Gary’s life was upended; he had to stop working and was no longer able to drive. Between 2021 and 2023 Gary went through treatments, including gamma knife treatment, many immunotherapy treatments, and myriads of medications including steroids.
In October 2019, Leah’s mom noticed a mole on her chest that was dark and multicolored. After trying to ignore the mole, Leah called the dermatologist. The mole was removed and biopsied, with results returning that it was stage 1A, borderline stage 1B, melanoma. Her initial prognosis was worse than her father’s. Leah underwent surgery to remove the melanoma from her chest as well as removing lymph nodes from under her arm.
Gary and Leah’s journeys have been life changing. They embraced using sunscreen, wearing hats, and seeking shade when outside. Both have regular dermatology appointments and have become advocates for the importance of prevention and early detection. Individually and collectively, they have experienced the seriousness of melanoma.
Watch the Adams’ video story here.
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