Stories

Teen Diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma at 15 Says Doctors Initially Dismissed Cancer Symptom as Sign of ‘Puberty’

“It’s very important that we take care of ourselves, and I think a lot of young people neglect that,” Samuel Gee said Samuel Gee, now 19, has shared how he…
Teen Diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma at 15 Says Doctors Initially Dismissed Cancer Symptom as Sign of ‘Puberty’
Send to

“It’s very important that we take care of ourselves, and I think a lot of young people neglect that,” Samuel Gee said

Samuel Gee, now 19, has shared how he underwent a biopsy and found out that a mole that he had on his back since he “was little” turned out to be cancerous
He was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma at the age of 15
The teenager told Today.com one of the symptoms he had was a “swollen lymph node,” which doctors initially dismissed as being down to “puberty”
A 19-year-old boy is recalling being diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma at the age of 15, and how doctors initially dismissed one of his symptoms as a sign of “puberty.”

Samuel Gee told Today.com that he had gotten the mole — which he had on his back since he “was little” — checked out in 2020 following the advice of a wrestling referee, who noticed the mark during one of his matches.

He said the referee told him that he had “to get it checked out,” and so he underwent a biopsy at a dermatologist. It turned out to be good advice as doctors determined the mole was cancerous and Gee was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma at the young age of 15.

“I was definitely surprised,” Gee recalled of his reaction to getting the news to the outlet. “I was in shock.”

The college student noted to Today that the mole “looked like it was drying out” and said that the mole changed over the years since he was “young” and “gradually [became] raised” — a symptom of melanoma.

However, Gee said he didn’t really focus on it, as he was more focused on “swelling” which had popped up on his right leg. He said he initially thought it was an “inguinal hernia,” which is “when tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles,” according to the Mayo Clinic. A pediatric surgeon eventually identified the issue to him, but wasn’t aware of the cause.

“He was like, ‘It’s not a inguinal hernia, but likely [an] swollen lymph node,’” Gee told Today. “He’s like, ‘It’s just from puberty … Come back in a few weeks if it hasn’t gone away.’”

Gee later learned that it was also related to his cancer. He said that doctors told him his melanoma had spread locally, which caused the swollen lymph node in his leg. To treat the cancer, the teenager underwent immunotherapy — which he said was easier to manage under the COVID-19 lockdown.

“I would get fatigued a little bit. It would make me nauseous,” he says. “It was a very day-to-day thing. Some days I would feel fantastic. Some days I would feel like I needed to throw up or I was really tired.”

Recommended Article Find Straw, Egg, Knife, Sock.

After undergoing immunotherapy, Gee eventually underwent surgery to remove the melanoma and lymph nodes from his body. He then underwent additional rounds of immunotherapy before he was officially declared “disease free.”

Mum-of-four, Kelly Heather, wants further testing to be available at any stage of a cancer diagnosis. A mum was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer while 35 weeks pregnant with her fourth child – after repeatedly being told that her cancer had not spread.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the “most common type of cancer” in the U.S., and while melanoma “accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers,” it “causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.”

The American Cancer Society predicted that approximately 105,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2025 and about 8,400 are “expected to die of melanoma.” The organization noted that while it is more common for older adults to be diagnosed with melanoma, “it’s one of the most common cancers in young adults.”

As for Gee, who is now an engineering student at Texas A&M, he said he is taking his skincare seriously — especially when it comes to going out in the sun.

“I’m all about the sunscreen now,” he told Today. “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.”

He further said that he has a “new perspective on life” since his cancer treatment, adding, “It’s very important that we take care of ourselves, and I think a lot of young people neglect that.”

Have you read them?

Why tourists are being urged not to cancel trips after ‘new Baba Vanga’ predicts catastrophic event in just two months

A newlywed couple was still enjoying their honeymoon phase

Bonnie Blue’s pregnancy update might shock you

Harris Faulkner and Tony Berlin’s lasting love story: How their marriage keeps thriving after 20 years

News Feed

23.05.2025 16:02 Spotlight

Find Straw, Egg, Knife, Sock.

23.05.2025 14:47 Celebrities

Who is Tucker Carlson’s wife? Meet Susan Andrews, his high school sweetheart turned lifelong partner

23.05.2025 14:22 Spotlight

Parents Who Feared COVID Allegedly Confined Children at Home for Years

23.05.2025 14:14 Spotlight

Find 10 differences.

23.05.2025 14:14 Spotlight

Find the missing number

23.05.2025 14:10 Life&Style

Why tourists are being urged not to cancel trips after ‘new Baba Vanga’ predicts catastrophic event in just two months

23.05.2025 14:06 Joke

A newlywed couple was still enjoying their honeymoon phase

23.05.2025 14:03 Celebrities

Bonnie Blue’s pregnancy update might shock you

22.05.2025 22:34 Celebrities

Harris Faulkner and Tony Berlin’s lasting love story: How their marriage keeps thriving after 20 years

22.05.2025 22:28 Celebrities

Pamela Anderson stuns fans after returning to her iconic ’90s look

22.05.2025 22:25 America

Israeli staff shot dead in D.C were young couple set to be engaged

22.05.2025 22:22 Stories

End of life nurse reveals one move people make when close to death

22.05.2025 22:18 Life&Style

Adult star hospitalized after sleeping with 583 men in one day

22.05.2025 22:13 Joke

An American, a Russian, an Arab, and a Punjabi were deep in conversation

22.05.2025 16:53 Spotlight

Which bucket will get filled first? 99% will Fail!

22.05.2025 16:49 Celebrities

David Duchovny Is Married to Longtime Girlfriend Monique Pendleberry

22.05.2025 15:00 Joke

An elderly couple was driving.

22.05.2025 14:57 Celebrities

The View’s Whoopi Goldberg Explains Why She Hasn’t Worn a Bra in 50 Years

22.05.2025 14:54 Stories

Hospice chef reveals the one comfort food most people ask for before they di:e

21.05.2025 23:27 Stories

2-year-old girl killed by her grandpa alongside grandma and dad

21.05.2025 23:20 Celebrities

Tiffany Trump has welcomed her first child

21.05.2025 16:25 Joke

Rough Landing

21.05.2025 16:20 Stories

Officer smashes window to save baby – realizes he’s made a mistake

21.05.2025 16:17 Spotlight

Can you find the mistake?

21.05.2025 16:12 America

High school girl claims first-place podium spot despite losing to trans athlete

21.05.2025 16:08 Spotlight

Only with 10/10 eyes can you see where the 3 pigs are hiding

21.05.2025 16:04 News

‘Cheers’ star George Wendt dies aged 76

20.05.2025 21:35 Stories

Teen Diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma at 15 Says Doctors Initially Dismissed Cancer Symptom as Sign of ‘Puberty’

20.05.2025 21:18 Uncategorized

Michelle Williams Recalls Why Living With Ryan Gosling Was ‘Horrible’ Amid ‘Blue Valentine’ Filming

20.05.2025 17:40 Spotlight

What Is the Name of the Fifth Son?

Exit mobile version