Derm Dispatch: Discussing Early Detection and Education With a Melanoma Survivor

In the latest Derm Dispatch for Dermatology Times, Renata Block, MMS, PA-C, a dermatology physician assistant practicing in Chicago, Illinois, sat down with melanoma survivor and advocate Sarah Ogletree for a deeply personal conversation. Their dialogue sheds light on the sudden and shocking nature of melanoma diagnosis, the importance of regular skin exams, and the powerful transformation from patient to advocate.

A Diagnosis That Came “Out of Nowhere”

Ogletree, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, recalled the seemingly normal day in 2010 when everything changed. She was at a friend’s house, enjoying the pool, unaware that the next few days would mark the beginning of a life-altering journey.

“I was actually at a friend's house, we were swimming,” she explained. “I had already had a prior appointment to have another place looked at that was on my calf... that ended up being nothing.”

But on that Saturday, she noticed something new—and alarming—on her leg.

“I got out of the pool and went into the bathroom with a friend of mine. I looked at my leg and I was like, what is... I thought it was something from the pool or whatever, and I’m trying to get it off,” she said. “It did not come out, and it was black—like black black—and I’d never seen it before.”

When asked if the spot had been there before, Ogletree emphasized the sudden appearance.

“It was there, and it was just like it just grew pigment out of nowhere, out of thin air,” she said. “I thought it was like a leaf or a bug... but no, it wasn’t anything like that.”

A Critical Dermatology Visit

Fortunately, Ogletree already had a dermatology appointment scheduled for the following Tuesday. Although it was initially meant to examine the mole on her calf, she brought up the new spot without delay.

“I went in and I was like, well, I came for the one on my calf, but let me show you what this is. This just all of a sudden popped up out of nowhere,” she told Block.

The dermatologist’s reaction was swift and serious.

“She said, ‘Well, the one on your calf, I'm not too worried about, but the one on your thigh... that does not look good.’”

At just 25 years old, Ogletree admitted she wasn’t entirely ready to hear those words.

“I didn't know, I'm 25, I didn't know and I honestly didn't care what she was telling me because I was not going to stop doing what I was doing,” she said.

Tanning Culture and Missed Warnings

Ogletree candidly discussed her past relationship with tanning, particularly indoor tanning beds—a well-established risk factor for melanoma.

“I was stupid and tanned and tanned in a bed,” she said plainly.

Despite seeing a dermatologist and having moles removed in the past, she was lulled into a false sense of security and didn’t see herself as at risk.

“I’ve had many places removed before,” she explained. “But I wasn’t thinking it was anything to worry about. I mean, I went to the dermatologist regularly.”

The visit that ultimately led to her melanoma diagnosis was prompted by a simple observation during a massage before a marathon.

“I used to run a marathon in Seaside every year. And I would get a massage before, and the lady that does my massages pointed out the one on my calf and said, ‘Have you ever thought about getting that looked at?’” she said.

While that particular mole ended up being benign, the conversation and the resulting appointment may have saved her life. “Just by the grace of God, I had that... It all kind of happened right there in that whole span, that whole, you know, little 4-day block,” Olgetree remarked.

A Survivor’s Mission

Today, Ogletree uses her experience to advocate for melanoma awareness and prevention. Her story is one of both caution and hope: a reminder that vigilance, education, and early detection can make all the difference.

In her conversation with Block, Ogletree reminded clinicians and patients alike that melanoma can affect anyone, and often without warning. Her message is especially vital in reaching young people, particularly those still engaging in high-risk behaviors like indoor tanning.

From the randomness of discovery to the importance of routine checks. even when no symptoms are apparent, Ogletree's experience highlights the necessity of ongoing education, patient empowerment, and clinician vigilance.