Sarah Mitchell, 34, from Oregon, first noticed a small, round, light-brown mole on her shoulder—nothing unusual. “It looked completely ordinary,” she said, and with no history of skin issues, she didn’t give it much thought.

Over time, the mole’s edges became irregular, and the color darkened. Still, she delayed seeing a doctor, telling herself it could wait. Eventually, it began to itch and bleed. That’s when Sarah sought help.

A dermatologist confirmed it was early-stage melanoma—a dangerous form of skin cancer. “The diagnosis shook me,” Sarah admitted. She underwent surgery to remove the mole and surrounding tissue. Thankfully, it was caught early, so no further treatment was needed.

The experience deeply affected her. “I kept thinking how close I came to missing the signs.” Sarah’s story became a wake-up call for her loved ones, many of whom scheduled skin checks for the first time.

Now cancer-free, Sarah shares her journey online, advocating for skin cancer awareness. “It was a small mole, but it changed everything,” she says, reminding others to act early if they notice any skin changes.