Abstract
ABSTRACT: Diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 19 years, I've learned the importance of finding healthcare professionals who make you feel at ease and who take time out to answer your many questions. I now see a diagnosis as a wake-up call to action, as diet and lifestyle factors play an important role in the prevention and development of disease. This is my story, which I am sharing to allow others, including nurses and nurse practitioners, to see this diagnosis and its management from the perspective of a patient.