She had melanoma at 17. Ten years later, she’s a busy mom

On July 25, Sara Locke (pictured above with her husband Joshua) marked 10 years since her final cancer treatment for melanoma.

Her diagnosis completely changed her life - at age 17. “The first document I signed as an adult was the surgery waiver,” said Locke, who turned 18 the day of her surgery.“The experience of being diagnosed with cancer is overwhelming to anyone, but at 17 I was very naive to what it truly meant,” said Locke, now 28.The experience didn’t come lightly for Locke.“The most important lesson I learned from cancer would be the true value of life, the deep understanding that what you have today can and someday will be gone and that by appreciating every moment, you truly get to live,” Locke said.Locke had a 10’’ x 3’’ section of her back tissue and the majority of lymph nodes under the left arm removed. After surgery, she started chemotherapy at Nylen Cancer Center. Her last treatment was on her birthday - July 25, 2001.“I am extremely lucky to have used the June E. Nylen Cancer Center for my treatments because the knowledge and experience they have helped me to cope with what I was going through,” she said. “For me personally, the fear that cancer brought was overwhelming. Sunny days are still not something I enjoy. But using the coping techniques they taught me along with being able to express my fears to the nurses and doctors, helped me to learn how to manage and overcome it.”While Locke nears the 10-year mark of survivorship, she’s busy working with her family’s business, Wrenn’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc., and spending time with her husband, Joshua and three children, ages 8, 3 and 1. “My hobbies at this point in time are just trying to get them taken care of and where they need to be,” she said.Having experienced cancer at a young age, Locke has plenty of advice.“My advice to anyone that has been diagnosed with cancer is to utilize the amazing people that work at the cancer center to help understand your cancer and give you the tools to work through the emotions that come with such a serious illness,” she said. “Also, continue to live your life for each day.”This story first appeared in the June E. Nylen summer newsletter.