Quincy Mother Shares Skin Cancer Survival Story For Melanoma Monday

QUINCY (CBS) - On this Melanoma Monday dermatologists want to bring attention to skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States.

Melanoma is the deadliest form but doctors say it is preventable and treatable if caught early. Katie Michaud, a young mother in Quincy, is well aware of that now. Michaud is grateful she can spend quality time with her two young children because not long ago, her future was uncertain.

"I saw my life flash before my eyes," Katie told WBZ-TV.

Six months ago, she was about to welcome her second child when a trip to the dermatologist to check what she thought was a wart on the back of her arm turned out to be stage 3 melanoma.

"I am 37 weeks pregnant," explains Katie, "And they are telling me I have the deadliest skin cancer there is….I was just completely distraught."

Melanoma has been increasing in recent years. It's now one of the most common cancers in young adults, especially young women. Nearly 90-percent are thought to be caused by exposure to ultraviolet light from indoor tanning and the sun.

"It tends to occur in younger women, in areas that are often covered… on thighs or stomach or breast or buttocks," says Dr. Elizabeth Hale of NYU Langone Medical Center.  She recommends yearly skin checks.

"If they see a mole changing or a new spot on their skin they should get it checked by derm right away," Dr. Hale adds. "Most skin cancers are preventable and totally curable when caught early."

Katie Michaud was induced early so she could have surgery right away. She was left with a large scar, but needed no further treatment because the cancer had not spread.

She hopes other young women take her advice and stay away from tanning booths and always wear sunscreen.

"Just protect yourselves and your children because you never know it could happen to you," Katie says. "I never thought it could happen to me and it did and thinking back on all the times I went tanning to get that nice bronze I wish I had passed."

She says it's just not worth the risk.

According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, about 10,000 people die from melanoma each year.