TALK BACK TODAY
Posted: Thursday, March 29, 2007 8:14 PM by Katharine Billman
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Talk Back Today
This morning, Giada DeLaurentiis shared her family tragedy with skin cancer. WATCH VIDEO Her younger brother Dino died at the age of 30 from Melanoma after years of sun exposure and ignoring an abnormal mole on his back. Giada shared her story to raise awareness about skin cancer detection. Many of you were personally touched by Giada’s segment. Here are some of your stories:
Dear Giada,
I was so touched watching the story about your brother, Dino. Thank you so much for sharing such a personal story. I am a melanoma survivor. I was diagnosed at 26. I grew up a short distance from Pensacola Beach and we were never aware of the benefits of sunscreen. It just wasn't talked about and encouraged then as it is today. I also had many visits to the tanning salon when I was a teenager. I am convinced the combination of indoor and outdoor rays contributed to my diagnosis. I know Dino's story will help others because the only reason I went to the Doctor about my shape changing mole was because of the media coverage on Ronald Reagan's daughter, Maureen, after she died from melanoma metastasizing in her body. I had been watching a mole on my abdomen for months just waiting for it to "go away" or "get better". I had no clue it could be something potentially life threatening, I was only 26! I remember reading the news article about Maureen while I was at work. I instantly realized that I should go to the Doctor. After 6 months of looking at an odd shaped mole, I had it removed. I was very lucky the cancer had not spread to the rest of my body. I am almost 6 years cancer free and I am proud to say I have since had two beautiful little boys who would not be here if it wasn't for national coverage of Maureen's life and death. Because of my experience, I know you have helped many people by sharing your story.
Sincerely,
Amanda Powell (Pace, Florida)
I just finished watching Giada’s story about her brother’s death from melanoma. My family and I send our deepest sympathy and condolences. This story touches me personally. I am a 29 year old female. At the age of 26, I too, was diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma. The doctor blamed it on sun tanning as a teenager and the deadly tanning beds. The melanoma started with a small mole on my lower back no bigger than a pencil tip. Beneath that mole, the cancer had spread. The mole did not bleed - there was a microscopic red spot that my close friend happened to catch. Prior to surgery, the doctor expected the melanoma to have spread into my lymph nodes and that I’d have to have chemo and radiation. Lucky for me, the cancer had spread around my lymph nodes. I always lecture my “young” friends who believe I was just unlucky and too young for this.
Thank you, Giada, for bringing attention to this issue in such a sad situation for you.
--Jamie Travo
Giada,
I am so sorry to hear about your brother, I lost my sister exactly the same way, she was 34. Her name was Bonnie, and she was the sun bathing beauty. She had the mole on her abdomen, and was big and black, and grew very large before she addressed it. It was surgically removed and they thought she would be fine, seven years later, it spread rampantly and totally petrified her body with very large tumors. We were accepted at the National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute, and were part of a study by Dr. Steven Rosenburg. This study is still going on today, to try to find a treatment to cure this disease and possibly a vaccine. My sister died in 1987, and yes we were raised in the non sunscreen era. Like you, I have friends who continue the sun worship, and they just don't want to hear how devastating this disease really is and I have no idea how to get through to them. Thank you for sharing your story.
--Gail Burlingame (Howell, Michigan)
Hi-
I just wanted to thank Giada for her wonderfully poignant segment about melanoma. We lost a dear friend 6 months ago to the same awful disease. He had a mole on his big toe!! It turned into the same scenario as Giada's brother, Dino. I could tell how difficult it was for Giada to talk about her situation. She was fantastic and so human! Please thank her for her courage and for actually showing some emotion to all of us out in "tv land." Hopefully she was able to help point some people in the right direction toward sun protection. By the way, I'm a huge Food Network fan so I wish Giada all the best of luck as she joins the Today show. Thanks so much.
Regards,
Tricia Sullivan (Long Island, New York)
I was so touched by Giada's segment about her brother Dino, who died from the result of melanoma. My husband had a mole on his chest which was a melanoma and thankfully it was cut out before it metastasized. He is alive today because he had the mole checked out once he noticed it had changed shape and color. He gets check ups regularly at the doctor, as do all our family members. Thank you for sharing this very sad and personal story. Hopefully people will learn from your personal experience and have regular check ups at their doctor.
--Catherine Schultz
My heart stopped this morning when I turned on "Today" and saw Giada talking about her brother who had metastasis melanoma. My daughter, Trelawne Allison (36 years old) died November 30th from this horrific and malevolent disease. My hatred of this disease is overwhelming, as I watched my daughter suffer terribly, especially the last year of her life. My thoughts and my heart goes out to you and your family, for I know the desperation and the loving care I gave my daughter, as surely you and your beautiful family did for your brother. Thank you.
--Sonya Green (Fairhope, AL)
Thank you to all of you who joined Giada today in sharing your stories of loved ones with skin cancer. Read more about how Giada told her story in Liz Neumann’s blog. Wear sunscreen and send us your comments.
