Samantha Channels

My name is Samantha Channels. I am 34 years old and live in Kamuela, Hawaii with my husband James and our four beautiful children, Embre’sha, Josyah, Isaac and Hayzen and I am a three-time melanoma survivor.

In 2003, I decided to see a dermatologist to have my moles checked.  Some were removed but I didn’t think too much of it.  It wasn’t until 2004, when I discovered a tumor on my arm adjacent to where I’d previously had a mole, that I became concerned.  At this point, I was diagnosed with stage III melanoma.

I didn’t know until after I was diagnosed that I was genetically predisposed to melanoma.  It runs in my father’s side of the family. I grew up on the beach and at that time, wearing sunscreen wasn’t something we thought about.

I did a year of Interferon. It wasn't easy, but gave me three years of no evidence of disease (NED). Then, in November 2008, seven days after I gave birth to Hayzen, doctors discovered and removed a 3” tumor from my intestines. Nine months later, after doing a repeat PET scan, doctors again found a mass in my liver.

I completed three different types of chemotherapy, an immunotherapy called Interleukin 2b, which consisted of two rounds of 14 doses, administered in the ICU. This treatment made me very sick—dangerously so—with my blood pressure dropping extremely low. Still, I forged ahead. After this treatment, scans showed that the tumor in my liver had only shrunk 10%. I ultimately chose to have a liver ablation. This was really rough and it took about a month for me to recover.

I am very blessed to have a supportive and loving family. With their help and encouragement, along with the support of the community, I was able to return home to Hawaii after my treatments and launch my very own clothing line that promotes melanoma awareness, Gotsunblock.

I partner with the MRF because I want nothing more than to help raise awareness of this terrible disease, and of course, to eventually find a cure. A portion of the proceeds from each sale of my clothing line goes directly to the MRF to fund research.

Even though I just found out the cancer has come back in my liver, I am choosing to remain optimistic. I am a fighter and a survivor. I plan to have another liver ablation so we can get rid of this cancer again… and hopefully once and for all.

Aloha,

Samantha Channels

Story submitted, September 2009