From An Overlooked Bump to Melanoma, One Survivor Shares His Journey  

For CJ, a busy restaurant general manager getting ready for his 38th birthday, life was moving fast. Juggling 60-hour work weeks and preparing for a trip to Spain, he barely noticed the small, itchy bump on his thigh. "I didn't think anything of it," CJ said. “If anything, I thought it was a mosquito bite.”

But this bump was different. It grew quickly, and within three months, it became a mass half an inch off his skin that started bleeding. Even though he still thought it was harmless, the rapid change in its appearance led CJ to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.

The reality was that CJ had a very serious condition. The diagnosis came fast: melanoma. CJ describes his experience as "the fastest moving train I've ever seen." Within two weeks after that first dermatology appointment, CJ had imaging tests and an urgently scheduled surgery. The cancer, classified as stage IIIB melanoma, had already spread to the lymph nodes in his groin.

Finding strength through his journey

CJ and his husband had to cancel their trip to Spain, and instead, CJ spent the week recovering from surgery. Going from a healthy guy with what he thought was a mosquito bite to becoming a cancer patient facing treatment in such a short time was difficult.

Despite the temporary heaviness and depression he felt from this rapid change in life, CJ held onto his positivity while being supported by his husband. “He was my cheerleader,” CJ said. “I needed someone to remind me that it would be OK, and he was there, nurturing me.”

CJ moved forward with treatment, which included receiving several cycles of medicine through intravenous (IV) infusion. Once complete, he had follow-up care to be sure the melanoma hadn’t returned. This included having a routine ultrasound and CT scan of his chest and pelvis for five years. He approached this as a checklist. “Cancer never defined me,” CJ said. “I’m just one of millions of people impacted, and I just wanted my life to go on.”

Living cancer-free 

Recently, CJ received the news that he is five years cancer-free.

When facing a new diagnosis, CJ says it’s best to acknowledge the mental health aspect and seek support. While he relied on his own resilience, he recognized the value of shared experience. "Being around people who have been through what you have is beneficial,” he said. That is why he shares his story. It’s also why he has reached out to help others facing cancer by volunteering, including working with the American Cancer Society’s Men Wear Pink campaign.

CJ’s experience highlights the importance of paying attention to changes in your body and seeking medical attention for changes that don’t go away. What seemed like a small inconvenience turned into a serious, life-threatening condition that needed immediate medical attention.

His journey also serves as a needed reminder about sun protection. While anyone can get skin cancer, CJ’s doctors believe his melanoma may be connected to extensive sun exposure during his youth. He recognizes that his 1980s childhood didn’t involve staying in the shade or applying daily sunscreen since the science that led to regulations about sunscreen and SPF (sun protection factor) was fairly new at that time. However, as someone with fair skin and red hair, studies have shown that he is at much higher risk for skin cancer than people with darker hair and skin color.

These days, CJ and his husband are new parents and make sure their son is protected from the sun every day. “He is always the first one getting the sunscreen,” CJ says. “These choices we make every day impact our health — physically and mentally — and I want to do everything I can to protect him.”

CJ views his cancer journey as a significant event in his life, leading him toward making proactive choices, including more sun protection and a healthier diet. His career is now focused on fitness and nutrition, and he considers these events a part of his past, thanks to the work of organizations like American Cancer Society.