Photos courtesy of Leah Koskinen
In 2018, a few months after she became a mother, Leah K. followed her own mom’s advice and went to the dermatologist for her first professional skin exam. She never imagined that the exam would uncover an aggressive melanoma and ultimately save her life.
A Lifesaving Skin Exam
Leah distinctly remembers her mother’s words. “She told me, ‘You really should start seeing a dermatologist. Now that you’re a mom, let’s make sure you’re doing all the things to keep yourself healthy.’”
When Leah went for her exam, she pointed out a new mole that had appeared on her left shoulder. “It had popped up about a month before I went in for that skin exam; thankfully, it was in a noticeable location,” she explains. Her dermatologist took a biopsy, but did not seem concerned. “So I left that appointment and I truly did not think twice about the biopsy.”
Devastating Diagnosis
One week later, Leah’s dermatologist phoned her with shocking news: Leah had melanoma and her doctor was concerned about how deep it had penetrated her skin.
In an instant, at the age of 24, Leah’s whole world changed.
“I wish I had the capacity to relate my feelings during that time, but I truly think I mentally shut down and was just going through the motions, focusing on doing whatever I needed to do for my son,” she says.
Treatment and Recovery
Leah was referred to the University of Michigan oncology team. In May 2018, within a month of her diagnosis, Leah had surgery to remove the melanoma and local (sentinel) lymph nodes.
Because the cancer had spread to the nodes, putting her at stage III, Leah and her husband were informed that they had to wait before having another child.
“As a new mother, the diagnosis was devastating, but hearing that melanoma can spread to a fetus was equally heartbreaking,” she explains.
Leah and her husband put family planning on hold, and focused on Leah’s recovery. “There was a lot going on behind the scenes, and it took awhile for me to come to terms with it all,” says Leah.
After three and a half years of clean scans, Leah and her husband decided that the time was right to expand their family, and joyfully welcomed their second child, a healthy, happy baby girl. “She is a riot, and exactly what our family needed,” says Leah. “She makes us laugh every single day.”
What Leah Discovered About Skin Cancer
Throughout her skin cancer journey, Leah learned the vital importance of early detection and prevention.
“Battling melanoma has really helped me understand that skin cancer is serious,” she explains. “It is the most common cancer in the world, yet so many people don’t prioritize sun protection or get regular checks. Had I ignored my mom’s advice, my story might have ended very differently.”
In an Instagram post meant to support and encourage other skin cancer warriors, Leah listed some of the other things that she learned about melanoma:
🧠 How severe it is — melanoma can travel anywhere including to your brain or a fetus.
👤 How big the surgical scar can be (or multiple scars) — it’s not “just removing a mole.”
🔠 How it doesn’t always follow a pattern — melanomas don’t always follow the ABCDE rule.
🫤 How long term the emotional damage is — once diagnosed you’re always at greater risk of a recurrence, which is hard to live with.
“My journey with melanoma taught me how critical early detection and prevention are. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, yet so many people don’t prioritize skin protection or get regular checks. Had I ignored my mom’s advice, my story might have ended very differently.”
Finding Her Balance
When Leah reached the milestone of being 6 years cancer-free, she felt a mix of emotions, including relief and fear. “It’s a big milestone; I will say it’s also kind of scary because you know you’re going to be checked less,” Leah says. “It’s stressful to have that weight on your shoulders. Now it is my responsibility.”
At this point in her journey, Leah found her balance of enjoying outdoor activities with her family while being diligent about teaching and practicing sun protection. She also felt mentally and physically ready to dive into advocacy. “I’m extremely passionate about skin cancer prevention,” she says.
Leah and her husband wearing T-shirts she created for her Save Destination Healthy Skin fundraiser.
Leah works with the Foundation to spread skin cancer awareness on social media, and created a fundraiser for the Save Destination Healthy Skin campaign, supporting our free skin cancer screening and education program.
“I want to ensure that more people — people who may not even realize they’re at risk—get the lifesaving screenings they need,” says Leah. “Early detection saved my life. I want to save more.”
