In this segment Jodi, who was diagnosed with a melanoma when she was 19, shares what it was like to have a melanoma, what her reaction was, and how she managed to cope.
- Watch the video below, or Read More.
- Interested in more videos in this series? Melanoma ~ Patient Conversations.
Some of the symptoms to look for especially with respect to moles are:
- Irregular shape
- Irregular color
- Changes in moles
- In Jodi’s case, the mole was larger than the rest her moles
Prior to getting melanoma, Jodi tanned her skin using tanning beds and frequently got sunburned. She now avoids UV tanning.
• University of Colorado Denver Cosmetic Specialists
Dr. Dellavalle is a practicing academic dermatologist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Denver VA Medical Center. Dr. Dellavalle studied philosophy as an undergraduate at UCLA and completed MD degree and PhD (molecular genetics) degrees at the University of Chicago. He completed his dermatology residency at the University of Colorado in 2001 and a Masters of Science in Public Health in 2004. He is on the faculty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health as an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Public Health. Dr. Dellavalle has published over 100 peer reviewed publications and numerous book chapters. For fun Dr. Dellavalle enjoys vacationing with his wife and children, swimming, running, gardening and cooking.
Jodi graduated with her Master’s in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2009 with a focus on Health Systems, Policy, and Management. Currently, Jodi is a faculty member at the University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy (SOP) and a grant-writer and researcher for the Departments of Dermatology at the VA Medical Center and the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. As a SOP faculty member, Jodi helped develop a core curriculum in public health, a course she now teaches to first-year pharmacy students. She also oversees a service-learning course aimed at developing the communication skills and community involvement of future pharmacists. Jodi’s grants and research interests include melanoma, international research collaboration, and comparative-effectiveness research. Outside of work, Jodi has a wonderful family: a supportive husband, a 4-year-old daughter, a 12-year-old Labrador retriever, and a 1-year-old cat.
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[...] http://savantmd.com/2010/05/26/melanoma-what-was-it-like-to-have-a-melanoma/ [...]
I a a stage IV survivor, who has a family history of father having the disease, 2nd cousin on father’s side dying of it in his early 30′s. On my mother’s side her 1st cousin having it. Also have a 1st cousin on my mother’s side with it. I took Interluken and Interferon for 14 months. have scans every 3-6 months and get checked by Oncology and Dermatolgy every 3-6 months. I never went to a tanning bed. I had a demanding job and probably didn’t spent more than 3 days a summer at the beach. I inherited it on both sides of my family and it was the worst experience of my life. But, I am still alive after taking my last shot on 04/21/2008. Am very grateful to my Drs. for extending my life.