Stage III Melanoma! -- What do
you mean there's a chance I might not live!?
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United
States, with more than a million new cases occurring each year. A
child born today has a one in seven chance of developing skin cancer
in their lifetime. Of the three types of skin cancer, Melanoma is
the most dangerous; one person dies of melanoma every hour. May has
been designated the official Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
Donna Hartley, motivational speaker, DC-10 plane crash survivor,
Melanoma survivor and open heart surgery survivor, has a 24-year
speaking career. When diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma, she was a
single mom to a six-year-old daughter. The former Miss Hawaii and
graduate of the University of Hawaii attributes countless hours
spent in the sun and stress to the chances of getting the disease.
It took 30 years for Melanoma to manifest. Her diagnosing physician
was Mohammed Kashani–Sabet, M.D., Co-Director UC San Francisco
Melanoma Center, and surgery was conducted in 2002 by Dr. Robert E.
Allen, Jr., M.D. FACD of the Mount Zion Surgery Faculty.
“Today I am a cancer survivor. With an incredible medical team,
along with a holistic approach and the belief my daughter had in me,
I was able to overcome this devastating disease. I took my daughter
ice skating , and she looked at me and said, ‘Mom, I wish I had the
boboo in my leg, and then you would be healthy.’ The cancer was
located in my thigh. At that moment that I turned the disease over
to a higher power. It was with that total commitment, focus on
nutrition, plenty of water, supplements, visualization, meditation,
positive attitude and self talk, and the support of friends that I
was able to fight the disease.”
“The disease devastated me, Hartley said, “and my mission is to
educate adults and children about the dangers of skin cancer and
ways to prevent it.” She stresses, “Children are exposed to sun
often. Skin damage can take place during a 30-minute recess.” A tip
she emphasizes is, “Make it a habit for your child to apply sunblock
after brushing their teeth in the morning.”
As a member of the National Speakers Association, she has dramatic,
creative and entertaining
Style. The author of Fire Up Your Life! speaks before
thousands of peoples each year, has made more than 100 appearances
on television, and was featured on NBC, ABC, PBS, TLC, in New
Woman Magazine and The New York Times. She shares the
powers of intuition in her upcoming book, Fire Up Your
Intuition!
Her presentation outlines a five-point plan for skin cancer
prevention, and presents skills to safeguard you and your family
from skin cancer.
