Patient Stories

Michael  Gibson

My Melanoma Story 🖤 

Hi, I’m Michael Gibson, from Vancouver, BC, Canada. I’m an entrepreneur and the co-founder and director of BRUSH Salon and Harloc Hair Extensions.  

A couple of months ago, I was diagnosed with melanoma. Anytime I hear that word, it instantly strikes up intense anxiety throughout my body. Both my Auntie Wendy and my Grandma Gibson (who I never had the chance to meet) passed away from different variations of cancer.  

Fortunately, my partner Mike noticed a spot while I was getting out of the shower. It had a lighter brown perimeter with a black center and was hidden underneath my nipple, so I didn’t even see it. Once I looked, my heart instantly sank… I knew.  

It’s not my first rodeo with skin cancer. I’ve previously had cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as multiple pre-actinic keratosis (pre-cancerous) spots removed.  

I was lucky once again; we caught it early. Not everyone has that same story. Melanoma isn’t a skin cancer you want to mess around with. It can spread quickly to your lymph nodes and other organs if it’s not caught in the early stages.   

I’ve always been open about my experience with skin cancer because I want to use it to educate others, especially those who are fair, freckled, blue or green-eyed, and blonde or red-haired, since they’re more susceptible. Even Bob Marley, who did not have these risk factors, died from a rare form of skin cancer known as acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or race. Nobody is exempt.  

Since my diagnosis, I’ve been taking my skin health extra seriously. I’m going full vampire, UV clothing and all, hehe! Health is the most important thing; without it, we have nothing.  

Having Mike by my side and close friends who checked in made all the difference through surgery and recovery. I’m now considered high risk because of how many variations I’ve had at a young age, but the silver lining is that I can now see my dermatologist every few months without needing a referral.  

So here I am, in all my imperfect glory, with a 5.5-inch scar and a little piece of my lower nipple missing. To be honest, I think it looks kind of badass. The surgeon did an amazing job, and they’ve come such a long way with melanoma removal.  

Right now, I’m cancer-free and that’s some of the best news I’ve heard in a long time.   

When Melanoma Canada reached out, I knew I wanted to use my experience to help others. If even one person catches their skin cancer early because of this story, that’s music to my ears.  

Please, get your skin checked. Learn your ABCDE’s. Stay out of the sun. Wear your sunscreen. If you like that glow, try a sunless or spray tan instead; it’s the only safe way to tan. If you’re still lying out in the sun and tanning for hours, remember my experience and use it as a reminder of what can happen. Seriously, I’m not joking.  

Michael