CJ, a busy restaurant manager, was getting ready to turn 38. He worked 60-hour weeks and was planning a trip to Spain. In all that rush, he barely noticed a small, itchy bump on his thigh. He thought it was just a mosquito bite and didn't worry about it. When a "Bite" Turns Dangerous But this bump was different. It grew very quickly, and in just three months, it became a raised, half-inch lump that started to bleed. Even though he still believed it was harmless, the fast changes made CJ decide to see a skin doctor. The news was shocking: it was melanoma, a very serious type of skin cancer. CJ described it as "the fastest moving train I've ever seen." Within two weeks of that first appointment, he had scans and urgent surgery. The cancer, a serious Stage IIIB melanoma, had already spread to the lymph nodes in his groin. Finding Strength Through a Tough Battle CJ and his husband had to cancel their trip to Spain. Instead, CJ spent the week recovering from surgery. It was incredibly hard for him to go from a healthy person with what he thought was a simple bug bite to a cancer patient facing treatment so quickly. Despite feeling down and depressed at first, CJ held onto his positive attitude, largely thanks to his husband's constant support. His husband was his "cheerleader," reminding him that everything would be okay. CJ went through his treatment, which included several rounds of IV medication. After that, he had regular check-ups with ultrasounds and CT scans for five years to make sure the melanoma hadn't come back. He approached these appointments like a checklist. CJ shared that cancer never defined him; he just wanted to get on with his life. Living Cancer-Free and Helping Others Recently, CJ got the wonderful news that he's been cancer-free for five years. CJ advises anyone facing a new diagnosis to acknowledge their mental health and seek support. While he has great resilience, he found value in connecting with others who had similar experiences. That's why he now shares his story and volunteers to help other cancer patients, including working with campaigns like the American Cancer Society's Men Wear Pink. Body Changes and Sun Protection CJ's experience really highlights how crucial it is to pay attention to any changes in your body and see a doctor if something doesn't go away. What seemed like a minor irritation turned into a serious, life-threatening condition that needed immediate medical care. His journey also serves as a strong reminder about protecting yourself from the sun. While anyone can get skin cancer, CJ's doctors believe his melanoma might be linked to a lot of sun exposure when he was younger. He knows that growing up in the 1980s meant less awareness about staying in the shade or using daily sunscreen. However, with his fair skin and red hair, studies show he was already at a much higher risk for skin cancer than people with darker hair and skin. Today, CJ and his husband are new parents, and they make sure their son is protected from the sun every single day. Their son is "always the first one getting the sunscreen." CJ believes the choices we make daily affect our physical and mental health, and he wants to do everything he can to protect his son. CJ now sees his cancer journey as a significant event that pushed him to make healthier choices, including better sun protection and a healthier diet. His career is now focused on fitness and nutrition, and he considers his past cancer experience just that – part of his past, thanks in part to the work of organizations like the American Cancer Society.