Margaret Spengler is the pastor of a United Methodist church in Pennsylvania who was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma on her leg and in her lung. She put her faith in God and follows her immune therapy treatment regimen and is doing well. Her congregation has been very supportive along with her family. Rebecca Wadel is a friend who knows other people with cancer and is a member of the congregation. Margaret asked her to join the interview and describe what it’s like to have a pastor in cancer treatment.

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Categories: Patient Stories, Spiritual & Reflection

Jordan Lawhead was a teenager when he was first diagnosed with melanoma. Exercise helped him feel better, but he also says you need to acknowledge the love of the people around you.

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Categories: Creative Expression, Patient Stories, Spiritual & Reflection

Kevin Stenstrom was a marathon runner and a Naval Flight officer who, during a routine physical, was diagnosed with melanoma. After several surgeries and months of cancer therapy, Kevin founded team Miles 4 Melanoma, a program that provides runners with coaching and individual training plans, all the while raising money to support the Melanoma Research Foundation.

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Categories: Movement & Vitality, Patient Stories

Joseph Sargente retired and soon after was diagnosed with skin cancer. He spent his whole life upset that life seemed unfair. Surviving cancer though, he realized how few people survived to retirement, let alone had more time left to live.

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Categories: Patient Stories, Spiritual & Reflection

Joel Pautsch’s melanoma diagnosis had him feeling down and questioning his faith, but the support of his friends and family helped him continuing living “Live Until You Die.”

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Categories: Patient Stories, Travel & Experiences

Back in 2003, when Amy Ohm was treated for melanoma, the internet was a chaotic mess of information. Her diagnosis inspired her to help others better understand their options.

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Categories: Patient Stories, Philanthropy & Volunteering

When artist Maria Lanas spent time in the hospital with her father-in-law, Shapour, during his cancer treatments, she was inspired by the drops of chemotherapy medicine falling inside of his IV bottle. She imagined the fluid mixing with his blood and later created a series of paintings called, “Infusions.” She calls the paintings a gift from her father-in-law. “It was a release for me,” she says. “Art has been a good friend of mine.”

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Categories: Creative Expression, Patient Stories