In December 2013, Colleen Piekarski discovered a small bump on her scalp, underneath her full head of hair, which she likened to an ingrown hair or a pimple.
The problem was, it wasn’t going away, in fact, it was actually growing.
Wanting to be proactive, Piekarski got in to see her family doctor after Christmas.
“I kept photographing it. I thought it was a bad sign that it wasn’t going away and it was getting bigger. I didn’t really think it was any kind of cancer, I thought it was a cyst or an ingrown hair or something I hadn’t quite figured it out. I just knew it didn’t look right.”
She went on to be referred to a dermatologist and then a surgeon to have it removed.
Biopsy results showed she had a very serious case of melanoma, Stage 3. She was 52.
“They moved on me really fast from the biopsy results, flipping me from here to the Northeast Cancer Centre in Sudbury. The head and neck guys there said it was pretty serious, and they sent me to Sunnybrook in Toronto,” said Piekarski.
“I had pretty extensive head and neck surgery there, and I had a bunch of radiation following that. Then I got placed in a clinical trial.”
It was cut short because of side effects.
“A couple months later I had a recurrence in my thyroid, and they put me in another immunotherapy trial at Princess Margaret Hospital. I had a miraculous response to the second immunotherapy drug. Basically, everything went away. They basically said I had a complete response to immunotherapy,” said Piekarski.
“Immunotherapy is definitely the latest and greatest treatment for melanoma. I had a fantastic response to it, which in the world of melanoma news, that’s a good change because its never really had a very good treatment plan. This was just on the cutting edge when I got my diagnosis, and it worked for me.”
People generally think of melanoma appearing on areas of the body like the nose, ears, arms or legs, after exposure to sun or ultraviolet light.
“I probably would have been at the doctor sooner if it had been on my face. They were kind of perplexed about why I would have it in a full head of hair. It’s far more common on scalps of bald people than someone with a full head of hair. But they did say because I’m pretty fair skinned, I have lots of freckles and blue eyes, that being fair skinned is a higher risk right there, but anyone can get it regardless of skin colour.”
Piekarski was always active outdoors, spending time on the lake, so the exposures were there.
Today she says she is feeling great. She's back at work and doing things she did prior to her diagnosis.
She says doctors have told her that based on her response to the treatment she’s expected to do very well.
"This is a good news story, but that’s not everyone’s experience in the world of melanoma. But there are more good news stories happening because of the research that’s going on. I found out about my treatment through the Melanoma Network of Canada.”
Piekarski credits the Melanoma Network with providing her with much needed emotional support during those low points after her cancer was detected.
“When I was blindsided by my diagnosis, that it was an aggressive melanoma, I was completely in a state of despair. I didn’t really know how the prognosis would go, and most of the news in 2014 was pretty discouraging. I’m normally a super positive person, but I thought ‘this was it.’ So I went online searching for everything I could find out about new cutting edge treatments and information. That’s when I found this incredible organization, the Melanoma Network of Canada. Until I found it, there was a lot of doom and gloom.,” said Piekarski.
”They had an option for peer support. I was in a dark place and said I needed to talk to someone who has had the surgery and been through it. About 24 hours later I got a call from a woman who was just a gift, an angel. She listened to my story, but she also told me about all the research, all the new things that were potentially coming around the corner, and all the trials, and that there was hope at this time for treating melanoma. For me that was of great significance because I was very discouraged at the time, and it made me stand up and think maybe I would be okay. And now we’ve become good friends.”
This Sunday for the first time, a “Strides for Melanoma-Walk for Awareness” fundraiser for the Melanoma Network of Canada is being held in North Bay.
“My son Chris is the co-lead organizer. We set a modest financial target for our first time out, and we thought we might only get 25 walkers, but we’ve well surpassed our financial target, and its growing. And we have around 40 walkers, many I don’t know, who have a history with melanoma."
She says part of the intention behind the walk is to make people aware that they need to protect themselves from exposure to harmful rays year round, not just during the summer.
“Skiers for sure, and people who are out in the sun for long periods of time, especially during the high-risk time of the day between 10 and 4. It doesn’t matter the season. Clearly now I’m highly cognisant of covering my head, wearing good sun screen, and being really careful in the sun,” said Piekarski.
“I’m not living like a hermit, but we’re all very diligent now in our family with sunscreen and hats, and being aware of covering ourselves. We’re still on our boat and trying to enjoy life, but with a whole different lens. It was like I had been hit by lightening when I got my diagnosis, because I didn’t see it coming. They say to always check your skin from head to toe, but for me it was a little trickier.”
The Melanoma Network points out that melanoma is one of the most common types of cancer for youth between the ages of 15-29.
Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds, and sunlamps are reported to be the leading cause of melanoma.
“That is really sad news to me. When I sit in the waiting room and I see people who are 18, 22, and new mom is in the same room for melanoma treatment, that’s a heart breaker.“
In addition to raising money for the Network and promoting sun safety, the walk is also about offering support and networking.
“It's about offering hope and information to people in the north. I can see it already happening through what we’re doing. People will be talking to each other here in North Bay about what they’ve been through. And we have great support like the cancer society here in North Bay, but nothing specific to this. So, I’m hoping we’ll be able to offer that.”
Registration begins Sunday September 23, at 9 a.m. at the North Bay waterfront beside the marina, with the 5 km walk following at 10 a.m.
The walk is being held simultaneously at more than 20 cities across Canada.
For information about how to register or for online donations, go here.
