Featured Survivor Story:
Wade Watson, Stage III Melanoma Survivor: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

A Diagnosis That Changed Everything

In early 2021, Wade Watson and his father received life-changing news just weeks apart. His father was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in January and just a month later, Wade learned he had melanoma. Navigating those two paths at once—and ultimately losing his father while confronting his own diagnosis—forced Wade to rethink what matters most, reshaping how he spends time with family.

Wade’s diagnosis began with a dermatologist appointment that his girlfriend, now wife, insisted on. He had a mole on his head that, after nicking it while shaving, just wasn’t healing.

Two Battles, One Family

A biopsy confirmed melanoma, and further testing showed the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. After doctors removed the melanoma and the affected lymph nodes, Wade underwent a separate procedure requiring a skin graft from his thigh to cover the surgical site.

All the while, his father’s health was rapidly declining.

Soon after his surgery, Wade got a call from his mother: his father had taken a serious turn. Wade packed a bag and got on the road, driving nine hours from Alabama to North Carolina.

When It Became Real

The moment that the weight of his melanoma diagnosis finally hit came after surgery, when Wade and his girlfriend removed the bandages for the first time. Seeing how much tissue had been removed made the seriousness of his cancer journey feel suddenly very real.

Somewhere along the drive to see his father, the adrenaline wore off. Wade pulled into a gas station and sat in the car, trying to collect himself before continuing.

Loss and Grief

His father died the next morning, surrounded by family, at age 60.

During those final weeks, Wade had kept his own diagnosis mostly to himself. He didn’t want to add to what his mother was already carrying.

Just days after the funeral, Wade had to return home for the next stage of his own treatment.

“That was a whirlwind,” he said.

Facing Treatment

Wade’s doctors recommended immunotherapy—pembrolizumab (Keytruda)—the same drug his father had received.

“That was another one of those same words,” Wade said.

Early on, Wade made a decision about how he would face his diagnosis:

“Not gonna quit. We’re not gonna retreat. We’re gonna hit head on.”

Choosing How to Move Forward

Part of that mindset came from his time in the Army, where he learned resiliency and grit. But it also came from watching what his father’s illness had done to the family.

“We both got hit with the ‘big C,’” Wade said.

“It’s very normal to be optimistic one minute and scared the next. You’ve got to process it.”

Life After Treatment

Despite the uncertainty, Wade’s treatment went well. Aside from some gastrointestinal side effects, he was able to maintain daily life during immunotherapy. Follow-up scans have shown no evidence of cancer since his initial surgery.

In the years that followed, life began to change.

Wade married his longtime girlfriend in September 2023. In May 2025, they welcomed their daughter.

What Matters Most Now

Becoming a father shifted Wade’s perspective on survivorship.

“Now I have others that rely on me so I really do take this seriously,” he said.

Family became a central priority.

“You really realize what’s important.”

Words for Others

Today, Wade shares his experience with others and supports the melanoma community.

When newly diagnosed patients ask for advice, he often returns to a phrase that stayed with him:

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

“The key is allowing space for every part of the experience—fear, relief, grief, and hope.”

“You don’t know how much time you’re blessed with on this earth. Just try to get the most out of it that you can.”