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Mary Diaz
Thanksgiving is great. The fourth of July is fine. But without question, Halloween is Mary Diaz's favorite holiday. Halloween marks the anniversary of the first surgery she had for advanced metastatic melanoma - a deadly form of skin cancer. Mary has celebrated four anniversaries - a remarkable achievement. "It was a shock when they told me. I didn't even know what melanoma was or that it could be fatal," Mary recalls.
The American Cancer Society reports that, although melanoma accounts for about 4% of skin cancer cases, it causes about 79% of skin cancer deaths.
Since that day in October 2002, Mary has undergone numerous treatments in an effort to curtail that disease, which had spread throughout her abdomen and pelvis. She had several surgeries to remove the tumors on and around her right knee; 22 radiation treatments to kill any remaining cancer in her body; and finally a new therapy called interferon, which stimulates the patient's own immune system to recognize cancer cells as foreign and then leads an attack against the disease. Interferon is the only agent at this time that has shown the ability to decrease the risk of melanoma recurrence.
"I think of my treatment at Roswell Park as a partnership, neither can do it alone," Mary says proudly. "I told the doctors, you do your part and I'll do mine. Interferon was one tough year of therapy, three times a week, but I was determined to complete the treatments and I did."
Mary does have some lasting but fading side effects from her many treatments. She gets cold easily and is often tired. "I am here today for a reason. I don't know what that reason is but I believe I still have many things to accomplish," Mary remarks with confidence.
Mary remains cancer-free and follows recommendations for routine checkups and cat scans every three months. She adds, "There is a high risk of recurrence with melanoma so I will always continue to be monitored closely by Roswell Park."
Mary does have some words of advice for everyone regarding skin cancer. "I was never outdoors a lot, never tried to tan, but here I am fighting one of the most deadly cancers imaginable. Regardless of your skin type, always protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen year round." Mary plans to continue to be a success story and is already planning next Halloween's fifth year celebration.
Her message of hope for the holidays is: "Be glad and be happy for whatever you have in life. Live life to its fullest, laugh loud for it will carry on and dance like no one is watching!"
The American Cancer Society reports that, although melanoma accounts for about 4% of skin cancer cases, it causes about 79% of skin cancer deaths.
Since that day in October 2002, Mary has undergone numerous treatments in an effort to curtail that disease, which had spread throughout her abdomen and pelvis. She had several surgeries to remove the tumors on and around her right knee; 22 radiation treatments to kill any remaining cancer in her body; and finally a new therapy called interferon, which stimulates the patient's own immune system to recognize cancer cells as foreign and then leads an attack against the disease. Interferon is the only agent at this time that has shown the ability to decrease the risk of melanoma recurrence.
"I think of my treatment at Roswell Park as a partnership, neither can do it alone," Mary says proudly. "I told the doctors, you do your part and I'll do mine. Interferon was one tough year of therapy, three times a week, but I was determined to complete the treatments and I did."
Mary does have some lasting but fading side effects from her many treatments. She gets cold easily and is often tired. "I am here today for a reason. I don't know what that reason is but I believe I still have many things to accomplish," Mary remarks with confidence.
Mary remains cancer-free and follows recommendations for routine checkups and cat scans every three months. She adds, "There is a high risk of recurrence with melanoma so I will always continue to be monitored closely by Roswell Park."
Mary does have some words of advice for everyone regarding skin cancer. "I was never outdoors a lot, never tried to tan, but here I am fighting one of the most deadly cancers imaginable. Regardless of your skin type, always protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen year round." Mary plans to continue to be a success story and is already planning next Halloween's fifth year celebration.
Her message of hope for the holidays is: "Be glad and be happy for whatever you have in life. Live life to its fullest, laugh loud for it will carry on and dance like no one is watching!"
