Melanoma Awareness Foundation is dedicated to raising Awareness and Educating of Melanoma & Skin Cancer to the Public via Schools, Businesses and Community Groups etc including, but not limited too, fund raising presentations and lectures.
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Amanda's Journey
Amanda Carter (my darling beautiful daughter) touched the hearts of so many people in her life. At just 25 she lost her brave battle with Melanoma Cancer on the 12th of November 2007.
Just two years earlier (Oct 2005) Amanda noticed a change in a mole on her back; it had become red and itchy. After consulting her GP the mole was excised and came back stage 2 Melanoma so more was to be cut away this was given the all clear. Only a few months later at her regular Mole Screening appointment it was revealed that she should have more cut away, again, this also was given the all clear. In June 2006 Amanda felt three small lumps in her back about 5cm away from where her mole was removed, diagnosis – Stage 3 Melanoma. (Metastatic Melanoma)
The lumps were cut out as was a section under her left arm where it was discovered that four of the lymph nodes were infected with Melanoma cells. (“This is serious” were the fading words of her doctor) Serious did not explain that we would not have Amanda with us this Christmas just gone; the reality, totally incomprehensible!) Amanda actually recovered really well from that surgical procedure, had a beautiful and healthy family holiday at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast Christmas 2006.
Amanda felt her life was now falling into place. She was accepted into University to do Bachelor of Education and planned to work part time while performing her important role as a full time mother and wife. Until January 2007 when she thought she just had a groin injury from crouching down to be with her little boy (then only 2years old). After unsuccessful chiropractic and physiotherapy sessions it wasn’t until March 23rd that her Melanoma specialist discovered that Amanda had a 9cm tumor in her left hip and socket. Surgery at first was out of the question but after 8 sessions of Radiotherapy, surgery then became an option. On 7th June 2007 Amanda had a full left hip replacement and reconstruction, (something that is usually associated with the older generation.) We were told that in just a few short weeks she would be on her feet again without the crutches or wheel chair, something she worked so determinedly at.
Amanda was experiencing back pain which was put down to the imbalance associated with limping for so many months, unfortunately this was not the case and getting back on her feet was not to be. Another scan with doctors at the PA hospital found another tumor on her L4 vertebrae, as well as spots on her spleen. More radiotherapy prescribed for pain relief.
Unfortunately relief from pain did not eventuate for Amanda, my brave girl. This strong and determined woman still was not giving in. She quietly suffered the excruciating pain until her 25th birthday on August 19th, (she was not going to be in hospital for her birthday!) We admitted her to the Wesley Hospital for pain relief and pain control on the evening of the 20th via ambulance to the emergency department of the Wesley hospital.
This time scans discovered that her excruciating pain was related to a fracture of her L4 vertebrae (second vertebrae from the bottom of the spine) (little wonder why her prescribed drugs were not working effectively) the fracture was pressing against the spinal cord and nerves. (I don’t think we could even comprehend the pain she was tolerating silently and bravely). Doctors orders ”no movement” because of possible irreversible damage to her spine and paralysis from the waist down. Spinal surgery was the next step; her L4 was removed and replaced. We all took this on as being what had to be done the actual seriousness and urgency was again incomprehensible its what “HAD” to be done to get Amanda back on her feet, her goal so she could get to that beach holiday that is planned each year at Christmas. (again we believed that she would be on her feet in just a few weeks)
It was during this month long stay in hospital that the media was showing Claire Oliver’s plea for Solarium closures. Amanda’s voice, (now through me) is "That if there is even the slightest chance why risk it".
Amanda did use the solarium under the age of 18, and again several sessions before her wedding day. AND her skin type was not checked according to regulations. She had very fair and burn easily skin (TYPE ONE) and should have been advised NOT to use the solarium especially without consent.
We contacted 60 minutes after Claire’s story and A Current Affair took on Amanda’s plea (aired 18th September). Amanda returned home with the belief (and hope) that she would wean off her Grasbey (automatic pump that injects pain relief drugs) and get back on her feet so she could go enjoy that beach holiday she booked for December 6th.
Four short weeks later(Oct 16th) we had Amanda back in hospital for pain control again as her prescription just was not working for her. The weeks to follow were just a blur, numbness invaded us deeper. We went in thinking at very first that she would be able to get out for her holiday even for a few days was the aim, it very quickly came to realization that she most likely wasn’t going to get out of hospital, wasn’t going to see her beautiful son James’ 3rd birthday (Dec 2nd), wasn’t going to get out to enjoy that beach holiday (Dec 6th) and wasn’t going to get out and see Christmas (her most favorite time of the year).
How do you celebrate and bring forward her son’s birthday and Christmas so she was able to enjoy these days when it wasn’t the real dates, how do you be happy in doing that, how do watch this brave person, a part of you, who enjoyed life to the max, made everything important and count, achieve and accomplish more than a lot of us today, fade away so quickly in those last few weeks before your very eyes.
My darling beautiful girl just amazed us and the palliative care team with her dignity, the sheer determination and the tower of strength that took her through to the last days of her life, days that extended way past her time they gave her. During her last few conscious days I promised her that I would be her voice and grant her wish for Melanoma Awareness, that it is not "just" a skin cancer that can be cut away, it can invade the body aggressively in any of the organs or bones. In Amanda case was 1st her hip, then her spine. She had the hip replacement on June 7th and spinal surgery on Aug 27th. THAT'S how AGGRESSIVE it was for her, now she is gone! I promised Amanda that she was not going to go through all this horrific pain and parting this world as we know it so soon, for nothing.
It is SERIOUS and does take peoples lives, aggressively, painfully and quickly!
People constantly say to me “how can you be so strong/or “how are you handling this so well” My answer to this was that I have too, I have to be strong yes I am numb, but just very recently I did come to the realisation as to how I was helped being kept strong – its because of the valued support group around me, family, friends, nurses, doctors acquaintances, everybody in there own way held out a hand of support, prayers, hope and encouragement. And now my aim, with the help of my family, friends and the community, is to set up a foundation in Brisbane in honor of Amanda’s bravery and wishes so donations can be used for Melanoma Awareness. This project, my promise to her, is what will also help me get through this!
Amanda has left behind a devastated community of broken hearts, her husband Jay, her beautiful son James, her dad Rhett and her brothers Brendan and Michael, me, her numb but determined, mum, and so many more people who came to love such a beautiful soul, who is so sadly missed!
My darling girl, I will be your voice and your wish will become your Legacy.
Tracy Eather (Amanda’s Voice/Mum)
tracy@MelanomaAwarenessFoundation.org.au
Written permission is required for use, editing or copying of whole or part there of, of this document “Amanda’s Journey voiced by her Mum“ from the author Tracy Eather.
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