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Pregnant Mom's Mole: A Life-Saving Diagnosis
29 Nov
Summary
- A small neck mole was identified as melanoma during pregnancy.
- Early detection and a second opinion were crucial for diagnosis.
- Pauline Ryan advocated for change after her cancer battle.
A Melbourne woman named Pauline Ryan discovered a suspicious mole during her second pregnancy. Despite being preoccupied with her young daughter and impending birth, she trusted her instincts and sought medical attention. Initially advised to simply remove the mole, a timely second opinion revealed it to be melanoma, prompting immediate concern.
Just ten days after delivering her healthy newborn, Pauline underwent surgery to remove the cancerous growth. Her battle intensified when the melanoma spread to her lymph node, leading her to join a clinical trial for immunotherapy. This treatment, while successful in achieving remission, required her to stop breastfeeding and put future family plans on hold.
Though Pauline has been in remission for two years, she continues regular monitoring. She now dedicates herself to advocacy, joining the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network to push for national improvements in skin cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment, aiming to reduce the significant burden of the disease.
