One Day at a Time: Samantha's Journey Through Metastatic Melanoma

When Samantha Ybaro noticed a mole on her leg that she had ignored for years, she decided it was finally time to have it checked.

That decision changed her life.

In 2012, while attending nursing school, Samantha visited a dermatologist to evaluate the mole. What she expected to be a routine appointment turned into a cancer diagnosis.

“I had this mole on my leg for a really long time and never got it checked out,” Samantha said. “When I finally went to the dermatologist, the biopsy came back positive for melanoma.”

The diagnosis was a shock.

“You have an instant fear because it is cancer,” she said. “When I got my first biopsy back, it was metastatic.”

Following her diagnosis, Samantha underwent a series of tests to determine whether the cancer had spread. She later underwent surgery to remove the melanoma, which extended several centimeters into her thigh, along with a lymph node.

As she navigated treatment and recovery, Samantha learned to focus on what she could control.

“With cancer, you have to take it one day at a time,” she said. “If you focus too far into the future, it can become overwhelming. I learned to focus on one day at a time and one treatment at a time.”

For years, regular follow-up appointments and screenings brought reassurance. Then, in 2024, Samantha faced another unexpected challenge when she was diagnosed with melanoma again.

The recurrence marked the beginning of another difficult chapter, but Samantha approached it with the same determination and perspective that had carried her through her first diagnosis.

Today, she has encouraging news to share.

“My last scans were negative, and that's really exciting,” she said. “I don't have to do anything else right now other than continue my follow-up appointments and skin checks.”

While her journey is not over, Samantha is grateful for the progress she has made and the peace that comes with each positive scan.

Now, she is sharing her story to encourage others to pay attention to changes in their skin and seek medical care when something doesn't seem right.

She also encourages cancer patients to advocate for themselves throughout their treatment journey.

“Ask a lot of questions and make a list,” she said. “You'll think of questions in the middle of the night, and it's important to write them down. Understanding your diagnosis helps you make informed decisions about your care.”

Looking back, Samantha hopes her experience serves as a reminder that no one has to face cancer alone.

While the road has not always been easy, she believes that focusing on the next step rather than the entire journey helped her keep moving forward.

“One day at a time,” she said. “That's how you get through it.”