From Diagnosis to Hope: My Melanoma Cancer Journey

Founder Jordan Hauck’s Melanoma Journey

I hardly knew what Melanoma was when I was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013 after finding a lump in my right armpit. The lump had not bothered me, other than the fact that it continued to get bigger every month. I had no idea my Melanoma journey was about to begin.

After over two months of biopsies, MRIs, and other tests with my local physician team, Emory University determined I did, in fact, have Melanoma. You see, my presentation of the disease was more complex to diagnose than most other cases because I didn’t have a visible mole or skin lesion, which is the most common. Melanoma is my form of the disease, with an Unknown Primary, or MUP. According to the National Institute of Health, this makes up only about 3% of diagnosed Melanoma cases.

The Importance of Advocating For Yourself

After the initial diagnosis, the news continued to get worse. I did research about my disease and advocated for a CT scan with my doctor. In my case, a CT scan was not used as an earlier diagnosis tool. The CT scan showed the cancer had spread to my lungs, which is a common place for the disease to grow.

My first medical team did not give me a great prognosis and only offered limited options, such as surgery and radiation, to treat my disease. In my research, I uncovered that neither of these options is effective in the treatment of Metastatic Melanoma.

I advocated for myself again and was eventually referred to The University of Iowa Comprehensive Cancer Center. This was the best decision I’ve ever made and the only reason I am alive to write about my journey today.

Dr. Mohammed Milhem was a Melanoma specialist who came to the University of Iowa around 2007. He was a catalyst for bringing clinical trials for Melanoma treatment to Iowa. Thankfully, I was able to take part in a trial using a combination of immunotherapy and target medication. Against all odds, I beat the cancer and remained cancer-free for ten years!

Melanoma Journey Returns

The cancer returned in 2023; my Melanoma showed its face again. It appeared in a small lymph node on the back of my shoulder. I recognized it for what it was. Thankfully, I was able to get in to see Dr. Mo immediately. Within a day of that appointment, I began a newly FDA-approved medication called Opdualag. It’s a combination of two immunotherapy drugs used to treat advanced Melanoma. This medication is a first-line treatment for Melanoma that has spread or can’t be surgically removed. It works by blocking the proteins that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells. The treatment recognizes and then destroys the Melanoma cells. Essentially, it “cuts the brakes” on your immune system.

I have been cancer-free again for one year! Thankfully, Melanoma treatments have advanced drastically over the past 10 years and continue to lead the way for treating other cancers using immunotherapy.

An Aggressive Cancer

One of the most common responses I get when I tell my story is: “Oh yeah, it’s just skin cancer. You can have it cut out by a dermatologist.” This is FALSE!

Melanoma is considered to be one of the most aggressive cancers. It can spread quickly from a small primary tumor to other parts of the body. This cancer can spread to the brain, bone, liver, lymph nodes, and lungs. In the past decade (2013-2023), the number of new invasive Melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased by 27%! My thoughts on the cause of this are the widespread use of tanning beds. Did you know that Melanoma increases by 75% with tanning bed use before age 35?!

Jordan’s Work Today

Though Melanoma diagnoses have been growing, it’s also one of the most preventable cancers. I founded Crown Cover UPF 50 sun-protective clothing for this reason! What better way to stop cancer than preventing it in the first place, promoting skin cancer awareness, and financially supporting research?

Every purchase of Crown Cover UPF sun-protective clothing supports cancer research. The Cancer Bucket, our nonprofit foundation, receives a portion of the proceeds from each purchase. The Crown Cover team established The Cancer Bucket to financially support prevention, education, Melanoma research, and clinical trial work at the University of Iowa. The Crown Cover UPF product line will continue to grow. As will our mission of ‘Sun Safety with a Purpose ‘.

The next time you hear someone say Melanoma is “just skin cancer,” I encourage you to remember my story. Remember the seriousness of the disease and the options out there for better treatment if you do have a Melanoma journey and prevention. It might just save your life or someone you know and love.