A 38-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer just days before giving birth to her son. For Kelly Heather, the first sign of melanoma she noticed was an unusual change in her nail. And after this he fought for eight years to overcome this dangerous disease, but the disease kept coming back again and again.

Kelly, from Kent, visited her doctor in 2017 after noticing a black line on her nail. However, after some tests, she was told that “no cancer cells were visible” but she was monitored every three months. Although it’s rare, skin cancer, including melanoma, can develop under and around your fingernails and toenails. It may appear as a brown or black band on the nail, which can be easily mistaken for an injury.

As the color of the nail band became darker, Kelly had to have it removed through surgery. However, within six months, something resembling a verruca appeared on the end of the finger, indicating that the cancer had returned. “Whatever you need, just take it. I’d rather have it than spread it around,” Kelly said.

After surgery as well as several cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Kelly’s fingers were eventually removed and he was given the “all-clear” in 2020. But in August 2022, he discovered a lump in his armpit, which he determined was cancer again. Returned and spread to the lymphatic system. She again had major surgery to remove 20 lymph nodes. He was told that only one of them had Metastatic Malignant MelanomaBy October 2023, after a year of immunotherapy at Maidstone Hospital, Kelly’s scans were coming back clear.

Cancer returned for the third time

A year later, Kelly was pregnant with her fourth child, and one day she was unable to lift her leg. “My leg started popping out and shaking uncontrollably, and within less than a minute, I started having a full-blown seizure in the kitchen. I honestly thought I was dead. I felt like I was dying and all I could think was that my children had lost their mother and my child was going to die,” she said.

after he was diagnosed brain Tumour – which was later confirmed Stage 4 Melanoma Brain CancerAfter giving birth to her child via C-section, she underwent brain surgery to remove the tumor. “They removed most of the tumor, but they couldn’t remove all of my left side without causing permanent paralysis. So, a small part was left behind, which is why I have to have targeted radiotherapy to kill the remaining tumor in the brain. “I left,” Kelly said.

Along with caring for a newborn, Kelly is starting a new treatment that involves two different immunotherapy drugs. She said: “It’s the only treatment that’s available. There’s a 50 per cent chance it will work for me. It’s very hit and miss so it’s quite scary.”

Kelly has been told there is a 25 percent chance that the cancer could spread to her baby through the placenta.

What is melanoma?

Experts say melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer with the highest risk of death. Although it is a serious skin cancer, it is treatable if caught early. According to doctors, prevention and early treatment is important, especially if you have fair skin, blonde or red hair, and blue eyes.

Melanoma, also known as black tumor, is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, which grows rapidly and can spread to any organ. Melanoma comes from skin cells called melanocytes, which produce melanin, the dark pigment that gives skin its color. Most melanomas are black or brown, but some are also pink, red, purple, or skin-colored.

About 30 percent of melanomas start in existing moles, but the rest start in normal skin. This makes it especially important to pay attention to changes in your skin because most melanomas do not start out as moles. However, how many moles you have can help predict your risk of developing melanoma in your skin.

It is important to know if you are in a high-risk group for developing melanoma skin cancer.

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