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Andrea Cunningham has always done all she could to keep herself busy and healthy, from owning a restaurant to staying active in sports. At age 29 she discovered a lump in her armpit, which was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma.
“I was feeling healthy, so I didn’t think it was cancer,” says Andrea. “In the beginning I saw a few doctors, and they prescribed me antibiotics thinking it was an ingrown hair – those antibiotics were not changing anything.”
It wasn't until Andrea visited MercyOne Clive Urgent Care where she met with Dr. Netteland-Sandvig who heard her concerns and proceeded to do a biopsy. After being diagnosed, she began several clinical trials for treatment.
“Because metastatic melanoma isn’t usually treated by chemotherapy these trials were my only hope,” said Andrea. “During this time, I started questioning why this is happening to me and what could I have done differently, but I had so much hope to just try to do the best I could.”
Within four months of receiving treatment, Andreas' liver reached toxicity. She was taken off treatment for nine months. Then placed back on new trial of treatment that was injected into the tumor directly.
“My partner and I had just gotten engaged, and the day I had my cancer appointment was a year from when we planned on getting married,” said Andrea. “I had felt that my life was just getting started. I wanted to get married, become a mother, and a business owner. It felt as if all the things were going to be taken away from me, except I knew I had to keep my hope.”
The tumor had erupted, and Andrea was taken directly into emergency surgery. After several radiation treatments to clear the area, she began to feel the side effects more and more from these treatment and trials.
“I had to stop working even though I didn't want to,” said Andrea. “But I finally got my first clear scan almost two years after, and I almost didn't believe it. I had been so focused on wanting to get that clear scan and keep pushing forward that once I got it, I fell into what can be called survivor's guilt.”
Andrea was left feeling confused from something she had worked to push herself so hard towards. She began therapy and taking care of herself even more closely now after having gone through years of uncertainty.
“Overcoming this has given me a different view on life,” says Andrea. “I don't sweat the small stuff as much and appreciate time so much more. Just to be here and be able to continue to try and reach my goals is what helped me through everything and will always be my drive.”
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