Molly O’Rourke, Stage 0 “In Situ”

Every six months, I visit my dermatologist for a routine full-body skin check. In March 2025, while I was home from college for spring break, I had one of those regular appointments. During the visit, my dermatologist removed three suspicious spots—one on my right arm, one on my left arm, and one on my chest. I didn’t think much of it at the time, since I’d had spots removed before and the biopsies had always come back benign.

A week later, I was back at school and received a call from my doctor. She told me that the biopsy results showed Melanoma in Situ on my right arm, as well as precancerous spots on my left arm and chest. I was told I needed immediate surgery, since melanoma is the fastest-spreading form of skin cancer and can become deadly within six weeks.

Just a week later, I was in the hospital for my first wide local excision surgery to remove the melanoma. In June, I underwent another procedure to remove the two precancerous spots.

My diagnosis came as a huge shock. Though I have fair skin, I’ve always been diligent about wearing sunscreen. Because of my young age, my doctor recommended genetic testing, but it showed that I do not carry the gene associated with melanoma. I never would have expected that the moles I’d had for years, that had only recently begun to change, would turn out to be skin cancer, let alone melanoma. I am now a patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I continue to have regular skin checks to monitor for any new changes.

I want to spread the message that skin cancer doesn’t discriminate. I never imagined that at just 20 years old, as a college sophomore, I would be undergoing multiple surgeries for cancer removal. The scars on my arm and chest are constant reminders of what I’ve been through, but they also represent strength, awareness, and the importance of early detection. I hope my experience encourages others to take their skin health seriously and understand that skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age or background.

Molly O’Rourke, Stage 0 Survivor Story
Date of Diagnosis: 03/26/2025
Old Bridge, New Jersey