Young Woman Diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma Without Moles Shares Harrowing Journey
When Mariena Browning, a 22-year-old from Pocatello, Idaho, was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma, it came as a shock as she had no moles or marks on her body. This led to a challenging three-year journey of treatments that included yellowing eyes, a colon infection, and life-altering changes. Only about 22 percent of people survive for five years after a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that affects the cells producing the skin’s brown pigment. Browning’s cancer did not have a primary site, making it difficult to identify. Caught early, melanoma is treatable, but for Browning, it spread undetected to her lymph nodes. Despite trying a clinical trial, delays led to a more advanced stage 4 diagnosis.
Treatment involved surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and various side effects. Despite setbacks, Browning finally received good news in February 2020, with no detectable tumors in her body. She stopped treatment in October 2021 and welcomed a baby girl in June 2023. Browning aims to raise awareness about melanoma among young people, emphasizing the importance of sun safety and regular skin checks.