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Science Knowledge 23/05/2025 23:38

15-year-old teen diagnosed with stage 3 melan0ma reveals doctors initially dismissed warning signs as "puberty"

At age 15, Samuel Gee received a startling diagnosis of advanced melanoma after early warning signs were misinterpreted as typical puberty-related changes, highlighting the importance of vigilant health care and self-advocacy.

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The Early Signs and Misdiagnosis
Samuel Gee, now 19, recounts how his journey with melanoma began with a mole on his back that he’d had since childhood. Despite the mole’s presence, it wasn’t until a soccer referee noticed it during a 2020 match and urged him to seek medical advice that Gee finally consulted a dermatologist.

Following a biopsy, Samuel was shocked to learn that the mole was cancerous and diagnosed as stage 3 melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.
Over time, the mole had visibly changed, becoming raised and appearing to dry out — classic warning signs Gee hadn’t initially considered alarming.

However, what concerned him first was swelling in his right leg. Initially suspecting an inguinal hernia — a condition involving tissue protrusion through abdominal muscles — he consulted a pediatric surgeon.
The surgeon dismissed it as likely a swollen lymph node due to puberty, advising Samuel to return if the swelling persisted.

The Reality of the Diagnosis
Tragically, the swollen lymph node was connected to melanoma that had already begun to spread. The initial misdiagnosis delayed recognition of the cancer’s severity.

Checking benign moles.

Samuel’s treatment involved immunotherapy, a potent cancer treatment designed to boost the immune system’s response to tumors. Though manageable, it caused fluctuations in fatigue and nausea, with some days better than others.
After several rounds of immunotherapy, Samuel underwent surgery to remove the melanoma and affected lymph nodes, followed by continued treatment.

Eventually, Samuel received the hopeful news that he was declared disease-free.

A New Perspective and Mission
Now studying engineering at Texas A&M University, Samuel has become an advocate for sun safety and cancer prevention.

“I’m all about the sunscreen now,” he told Today.com. “I hope people will start wearing their sunscreen. That’s really what I want to get across is wear sunscreen, don’t tan on purpose.”

His experience also deepened his understanding of self-care and health vigilance.

“It’s very important that we take care of ourselves, and I think a lot of young people neglect that,” he said. “I have a new perspective on life.”

Woman applying sunblock cream on her shoulder.

Biography

  • Samuel Gee: Diagnosed at age 15 with stage 3 melanoma after a mole was initially dismissed as harmless. Now cancer-free, he studies engineering and promotes awareness of sun safety.

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