When a routine skin check revealed melanoma in late 2025, it was a diagnosis that changed everything. Despite being diligent about annual skin checks for more than a decade, Samantha never expected to hear the words, “it’s melanoma.”
Today, while navigating the ongoing anxiety that can follow a cancer diagnosis, she is using her experience to raise awareness about the importance of early detection, sun safety, and melanoma research.
By taking on the Sydney Marathon and supporting the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation, she hopes her story will encourage Australians to prioritise skin checks and understand that melanoma can affect anyone.
Can you take us back to the moment you were diagnosed with melanoma in December 2025? What was going through your mind at the time? Had you always been conscious of melanoma and skin checks, or did your diagnosis change your perspective on skin health?
I have had yearly skin checks since 2013 due to starting a medication that had a side effect “beware of increased UV exposure.” I had a mole removed that had pre-melanoma cancer cells in it and this highlighted the importance of these checks. Fast forward to early 2025, I had changed skin cancer clinics as it was closer to home and it had been a few extra months over while waiting for my new appointment.
“I just had a feeling something wasn’t right. I couldn’t shake the feeling and then I received the phone call: “it is melanoma cancer, and we need you to come back’.”
I was asked about a blemish on my back that I had never been asked about before. We watched it for 4 months. It was shaved, biopsied as it had changed. I just had a feeling something wasn’t right. I couldn’t shake the feeling and then I received the phone call: “it is melanoma cancer, and we need you to come back’. It was explained the procedure as a wide long excision where they take extra margins to ensure they get surrounding cells.
Waiting for the day of the surgery was hard, it was hard not to imagine it spreading. Surgery was performed and 11 stitches later in my left shoulder blade and I had some relief that it was out and a week later confirmed they were confident they had removed it all.
It was such a relief to know that they had got it all but then fear of it returning brings its own challenges, that I think will never really go away. I was also making others be more sun smart, skin conscious and now they have to hear it even more from me, but if that saves more lives, then I will keep asking “do you have sunscreen on?”
You mentioned you’ve been NED since your treatment — how has that shaped the way you approach life now?
I will be honest, there comes an anxiety thinking of not if but when will it return. This is something that I have been working through with support from the Melanoma Patients Australia Nurse counsellors. I wish it was as easy as thinking “well it’s been cut out now, it’s all ok” but your mind thinks differently “what if it is missed at the next skin check’ what if that extra 15 mins without sun protection has caused another melanoma. But in the next breath, I feel lucky that I kept up my yearly skin checks as it may have been a different outcome.
“Since my diagnosis there has been a great support network, and [the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation] is one part of that network. I want to give support where research can help others in the future.”
What inspired you to take on the Sydney Marathon this year? Has your diagnosis changed your relationship with running, fitness or the outdoors?
Running is something that I love and when I saw an opportunity to raise awareness and show that we can be sun smart and still be outdoors, I jumped at the chance. My relationship with the outdoors has changed for sure, I have always been sun smart but now I am extra cautious, long sleeves, bucket hat, wide brim hat.
I have the SunSmart app on my phone and check the UV levels before heading outside. I think this is something I will always be conscious of, I think it now comes with the anxiety of trying to live in our great outdoors but also be aware of sun protection.
“[The Melanoma March] gave melanoma and skin cancer a physical presence if that makes sense. To see so many people impacted themselves or having support there.”
What was it like attending your first Melanoma March at Henley Beach?
Honestly it was emotional. It gave melanoma and skin cancer a physical presence if that makes sense. To see so many people impacted themselves or having support there. My family attended with me and it made me feel grateful to bring and share awareness.
Why do you choose to support the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation?
Since my diagnosis there has been a great support network, and this is one part of that network. I want to give support where research can help others in the future.
What advice would you give to other Australians who may not think melanoma could affect them?
It could easily be missed. So please be vigilant with your skin checks even if you think you don’t need one. And apply sunscreen even in the car! There has been too many lives lost already because they thought ‘it won’t happen to me’
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