After her December college graduation, Flannery Burke was excited for the future during the spring of 2022. Living at home with her parents, her focus was solely on bettering herself, physically and mentally. During this time, she noticed an abnormal mole on her collar bone. She thought back to a high school health class and what she learned about skin cancer. Worried, she went to a dermatologist who in turn biopsied the mole. Flannery was, unfortunately, diagnosed with stage II melanoma.
With this news, Flannery began to think about how this could have happened. It was in this reflection that she realized her use of tanning beds during high school may have been the culprit. Flannery remembers using a tanning bed to build up a base tan for proms and using the tanning beds at her gym often. What scared her the most was that past actions directly impacted future consequences. After having the mole removed, Flannery continues to see a dermatologist every six months. Consequently, she has had three more pre-cancerous moles removed.
While Flannery was initially frightened, she channeled that energy into advocacy. During this journey she has learned more about melanoma, educating herself about skin care. With this knowledge she uses her voice to educate others, specifically speaking to her friends and family about the importance of skin checks.
Flannery is also deeply grateful to IMPACT Melanoma for the support they give survivors and their families. Her proactivity aligns with IMPACT’s mission to raise awareness for her friends and family about the risks of skin cancer. In continuing her journey of wellness, she took up running. Flannery ran the New York City marathon with Team IMPACT, raising funds for the mission she holds so dear to her heart.
Watch Flannery’s story here.
