Melanoma Changed My Life—This Is Why Early Detection Matters

My name is Christine, but many people know me as Ceejay. I’m a stage IIIb melanoma survivor, and my journey with skin cancer has completely changed my life.

My melanoma started as a mole on my thigh. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how serious it was. Like many people, I had used tanning beds, spent years in the sun, and never thought skin cancer would happen to me—until it did.

Years later, my melanoma came back—and this time, it had spread to my lymph nodes. That’s when everything changed.

What followed wasn’t just treatment—it was a fight. I went through multiple immunotherapy treatments and targeted therapy. I experienced severe side effects, hospitalizations, and surgeries. There were moments where my body didn’t feel like my own anymore.

Even now, after reaching one year with no evidence of disease, the journey hasn’t simply ended. I live with long-term side effects, ongoing scans, and the emotional weight that comes with knowing how quickly things can change.

Melanoma doesn’t just affect your skin. It affects your entire life.

What’s even harder is knowing that my melanoma may have been caught earlier—that things could have been different.

That’s why early detection is everything.

A simple skin check—something so small—can be the difference between a minor procedure and a life-threatening diagnosis.

Today, I use my voice to raise awareness because I don’t want anyone else to go through what I’ve been through.

If there’s one thing I want people to take from my story, it’s this:

Please don’t wait.
Check your skin.
See a  Board Certified dermatologist.

Early detection can save your life.

#GetNaked and get checked!