She Was Expecting a Baby - Not Melanoma (Guest Jamie Martell)

Pregnancy. It’s one of the most thrilling and stressful times in a couple’s life. So many changes that lie ahead!  So many things to worry about for both a healthy baby and mom. But did you know for some women, hormonal changes that bring a new life can also trigger melanoma?

In this powerful conversation, Jamie Martell, a young mom from Maryland, opens up with Marianne Banister about how not one - but two melanoma diagnosis - left her fighting for her life during pregnancy. It’s a story of courage, love and joy which should benefit any expectant mom.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Why melanoma can develop in pregnancy

✅ The need to get a skin screening during pregnancy

✅ The link between pregnancy and previous melanoma diagnosis

✅ The value of functional health in wellness

✅ The life saving role of medical research

Links

🔶Jamie’s Story: Pregnancy, Hormones and Melanoma https://bit.ly/3yWH505

🔶Melanoma During Pregnancy: What it Means For You and Your Baby https://bit.ly/4kZ1Dvs

🔶 Choosing For You and Baby: The Best Sunscreens for Pregnant Moms https://bit.ly/3FzpstB

Claire Marie Foundation Mission

“ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hello, hello, welcome back. I'm so glad you're with us once again. Here we are, episode two. In case you're just hopping on for the first time and you're wondering who this person is, let me introduce myself. I'm Marianne Bannister, lifelong journalist and now CEO of the Claire Murray Foundation, which our family founded with the passing of my 17-year-old daughter, Claire Wagenhurst. And if you have been blindsided by life, as I certainly have, you learn to expect the unexpected. I grew up with a dad who was a football coach, and he used to always tell me the best offense is a good defense. And that's what we're all about at the Claire Marie Foundation. We want to share powerful melanoma prevention information that's directed specifically at young people because they're usually overlooked in this area completely. And we want you to stay safe and understand all the aspects of melanoma so that you are not blindsided, as our family has been. Now, I've got a remarkable story for you today. It may take your breath away. It's going to be a bit of a roller coaster, but it has a happy ending. Please know that. So no trigger warnings needed. But to understand where this ride is going today, I need to tell you one fact that I am absolutely sure you've probably never heard of before because it blew me away. Okay, here it is. Pregnancy can trigger melanoma. Yep, you heard that right. And we are going to introduce you today to my friend Jamie, who has an amazing story about how she overcame melanoma that was triggered twice during each of her pregnancies. Now, just a little backstory uh in case you didn't join us for our first episode. When our daughter Claire was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 14, the really unusual thing and the startling thing we found out was that her melanoma was triggered by something that all people go through puberty. It was hormonal changes in her body that caused that problem. We hadn't heard anything about it. We never expected to have this happen because she'd taken all precautions in sun prevention. But then at the same time, our oncologist at Johns Hopkins told us that down the road later in life, because we truly thought she was going to overcome this, he told us that Claire should never consider getting pregnant and having a baby, because he told us that that pregnancy in her case, he was fearful, could prompt melanoma once again. Now, given she was 14 at the time and we lost her at 17, that was the last thing on her mind. We were just trying to get her through it all. And I didn't really quite realize what he meant until I met another one of his patients, a beautiful, charming, lovely uh young mom from Maryland who overcame all of these odds. And I would like to introduce you to her right now, Jamie Martell. Jamie, how are you?

SPEAKER_01 3:30

I'm great.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

So good to see you. It's been too long. It has been way too long. You are so healthy. And wait, first off, because I want everybody to relax, they can hear the information. Your story has ended happily. How are the kids doing at this point? How old are they?

SPEAKER_01 3:48

The kids are amazing. They are recently turned seven and nine, which is wild.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Isn't that crazy? And to think back about how this all came to fruition. You um, I really just want you to tell your story because, as I said, it is a roller coaster. And you weren't really sure if it was going to have a happy ending when it all started, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Um, it was definitely very unexpected to, you know, have your first baby and two months later be told that you have cancer. I was diagnosed when I was pregnant in 2016 with my now nine-year-old son, which is like, woo. Um so I was diagnosed with him, um, and then learned that it had spread internally through lymph nodes, um, which again, we found out was all because of these hormones that are going in through your body at that, at that time.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

You got through that, but then your treatment really, you know, at that point, you're a brand new mom. This is when you're supposed to be so excited, and you have this little person you're in charge of, and you're trying to obviously get him started in his life and you're fighting for your own. I can't imagine how did you manage that?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

I think every mom can relate to this mentality where having a baby in general, everyone's just like, How do I know what I'm doing? Right. And I just think you go into this mode where you're like, I have to do it all. Because that's what moms do. We do it all. Um, and it's definitely a whirlwind. I had the best family that came up and supported me. My husband was incredible. My parents were there to lend a hand whenever we needed. You know, I had the best support and I had my faith, and I just did it because I had to.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Well, let me just ask you when you were first told you had it, what stage did they tell you? Because again, just to back up, there's different stages in melanoma for those that don't know. Zero means it's pretty much on the top surface of the skin, and then it progresses to one, not really needing treatment outside of removal, two, it's a little bit worse, but by three, then it's getting dicey, and then four, it's metastasized through the body. So what stage were you at?

SPEAKER_01 6:20

So when I was first diagnosed when I was pregnant, it was a mole on my thigh, and that was 2B. So it was pretty aggressive. And again, this was like a little freckle that just completely changed within five, six months of my pregnancy. So I had that removed, and it wasn't until after I gave birth that we discovered it was then 3C because it had gone to multiple lymph nodes in my groin, and then also eventually into my abdomen and my neck.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

So that was in just a couple months. Yeah. So it was fast, it was aggressive. It was very aggressive. Yep. I mean thinking, I have this baby, and will I be here to raise him?

SPEAKER_01 7:07

Yeah, I know I remember seeing that my percentage of survival went to 24 at that diagnosis. And again, it's just one of those moments where you know you have this little baby, and you're like, I have to do everything that I can. I have to whatever he, whatever Dr. Sharfman, whatever treatment, whatever I have to do, whatever crazy NIH treatment I have to do, I'm gonna do it.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

And so then you went to NIH and DC and did the TIL treatment. Is that right? Treatment, yes.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

And so that worked, obviously. So that one, it was working. And then I got pregnant with my wonderful daughter, Maisie, who is now seven.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Adorable. I have I mean, my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

Yes, but yes, again, as soon as I became pregnant again, it was a couple minutes later, I noticed uh growth in my neck and the melanoma had returned.

SPEAKER_00 8:09

So just within a few months of the pregnancy, it's back in the nodes.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 8:15

And what did the doctors say to you? Did they did they recommend you not continue the pregnancy? Did they did?

SPEAKER_01 8:23

And I don't, I still remember my husband just being like, You were, I've never seen you just so like confident. And because I was like, No, I'm gonna be fine. And you know, thank God I didn't put God in a box in that moment and say no, and went forward because it was all worth it.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

But yes, it was a lot more treatments, and and then you had if if I recall, didn't you have to deliver her prematurely to begin the treatments? Because they couldn't do anything while you were pregnant, right? Right.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

So I delivered her six weeks early, which led to about a two-week NICU stent. Um, but she is as healthy as can be, and you would never know.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

And then this is where, oh no, she is. I mean, I've I've understood this little athlete, right? On top of everything else, as uh as is your son Finn. So they're very healthy. We know that they're thriving. Um, with this other question I have, so it got to be kind of even more dicey with Maisie's birth than it was when you had Finn, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:32

Yeah, because it had been a little more localized in the leg with Finn. Um and then with Maisie, it you know, went to the neck, and then there was a very large tumor eventually after giving birth in that popped up in my abdomen. So again, between being pregnant and giving birth, all of it just it it went wild. And I remember the NIH doctors, you know, removing these tumors, just saying, we've never seen anything like this. Um despite knowing that this is a huge, huge thing for pregnant women.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

And so let me just just about your case, didn't you say that it accelerated the growth of the tumors right after the birth? Yes, yeah, both times. So they found out then what was the cause of this specifically for you? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

Yeah, it was pretty, especially they thought so with Finn, um, just given how fast it had escalated. And then with Maisie, it was pretty clear. And they were like, okay, now don't know more.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

You've been lucky twice. So estrogen seems to be the culprit in this case, correct? Correct. So, how does that work with your body? What what what's the connection? Uh many, many, many pregnant women. And again, we want to clarify just because you're pregnant does not mean you're going to get melanoma. And that's one thing I always tell people, like with Claire's circumstance, that, you know, yes, she went through puberty. Yes, it happened. In her case, it was connected to hypothyroid, which just all it was like a perfect storm. That doesn't mean it's going to happen to you, but you don't know if it could, correct?

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Correct. Yes. Um, I really wish we'd had more access to testing throughout our lives, you know, hormonal testing. And I just feel like it's hard to find a doctor that will not just wait till you come to them with a problem, because come to find out, I went to a functional doctor, got some lab work, and my body does not metabolize estrogen. There's a marker where I just am not metabolizing it. And that's been my entire life. So if I had known this going into pregnancy, I would have known that this was a huge thing for me to watch out for.

SPEAKER_00 12:05

And to maybe be a little more cautious. Exactly. You know. Um, what do you tell friends, other women? I know you've spoken out about this before. You've been a friend of our organization, you've let us tell your story many times. But and and I'm so key about it because, you know, my older daughter has had two kids, and I was obviously a little over the top worried about it, you know, given family history and all. And anytime I see anybody, I'm just like, and I I just went in for a check with a new doctor the other day, uh, with a gynecologist. And I said, So do you know about this? She goes, Oh yeah. I said, Do you tell your patients that they need to do? And she actually does because she's one of those that does a lot of functional health as well. But um I I'm just surprised that people don't know about it.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

Yeah, they really don't. They tell you to go to the dentist. There's like cavity issues, I I guess, and they really push getting your flute shot. But other than that, that's it.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

Well, and and along those same lines, then, um so I know melanoma can transfer in pregnancy sometimes to to to the baby, and both the kids are fine, they've been checked. Yes. I'm sure they you're like a hawk all over them on multiple reasons, right? Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

Yep, they they know the drill, they've got their little um solar buddies and they rub the sunscreen all over, but it and just making sure, you know, my son had a little freckle on the bottom of his foot that we've been watching, and but he knows he's constantly like, mom, my freckle looks the same. You know, he knows to like make sure, like, let me know if you notice the littlest change, you know, right, yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

Because I think what's really important is that we are not saying the son is not a contributor, right? That's that's obviously UV is so intense. So all it means that if in your case, in Claire's case, and other people who have a genetic predisposition or hormonal predisposition, which happens so much in young people, um, you just it's like a triple threat, right? You have to watch yourself on all counts. And at our organization, we always advocate, as you know, um, that skin screening is essential because you can think something looks funky, but by the time you see it with your naked eye, it could already be a problem. Because you were you you said, you know, that the original mole on your leg, you were just going, yeah, it looks a little different, but it doesn't always follow what we're told to look at, right? Like with the you know, the borders and all that, it can look gray, it can look, it can just look different in general.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Right. Yep. And don't ever, I always say, like, if you even have like an inkling that it's not right, just take it off. Take it off. Because I still to this day, you know, it started to change. And in my mind, I just kept being telling myself it was fine. And I wish I hadn't. I wish I had been like, I need to. And again, I think that if we were told a little bit more about the pregnancy issue, I maybe would have been. Um, but yeah, if you even have a little bit of a question, just go.

SPEAKER_00 15:35

Follow your gut, right? Your gut, yes. You have the you have the that mom instinct with your kids, but you also have it with yourself as uh as well. Um, I know, you know, and not to you know alarm or anything, but I know this is part of living with a melanoma diagnosis that we all know it goes away, but there's always the risk it could come back. Um, how do you manage that in your life? How do you manage your wellness to make sure if it does try to be sneaky SOB again, you're on top of it? Um what's your your formula?

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Um, you know, I do feel like battling cancer for nearly seven years, you really, really, really become attuned to your body. So always, I don't know, if you just feel like something is off, don't be like I'm being ridiculous or yeah, and you know, other ways I take care of myself. I am with my friends a lot, I'm with my family a lot, I read a lot. It, you know, things to kind of take your mind off of that reality is a big piece of it because it is a reality. Um, and sometimes it helps keep me in check. You know, as as much as you don't want to think about it, it is it is a reality check. Life is a gift, and you know, you want to remember that.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

You absolutely do. And you know, you are NED, which means no evidence of disease for those that don't know, for four years now. Four years, yes. And a lot of that is due to treatments through NIH, correct?

SPEAKER_01 17:20

Um, so I did the NIH, um, but the one that worked for me was a Hopkins trial. So I had it was called Anti-Lag 3. I get there's so many immunotherapies out there. Um, they're such a wonderful gift to have right now because they're working for so many different cancers, and it worked for me. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

And a lot of those drugs quickly go to market, and that's now available too for you know, people who are looking, you know, for a new treatment. But again, you always follow your your doctor's recommendations. I just worry with all the cuts, the budget cuts in the world, what that's going to do to the treatments, to the trials, to the new research. I mean, if those things weren't available, do you think you'd be here today?

SPEAKER_01 18:12

Absolutely not. Um, I know you know that for melanoma, chemotherapy does not work. Right. Um I only got chemotherapy as a part of one of my treatments for other reasons, not for the cancer. But immunotherapy is the only option for melanoma. So yeah, if if we lose those options, that's that's a huge hit for us.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

Because, like we say, everybody's got skin. So everybody's at risk and they have to know. And obviously, you're fair-haired and you know, blue-eyed and all that, but this applies to any woman, any person that you know has skin, but obviously with any mother at all, it should be noted. It's not just a fair skin condition, correct?

SPEAKER_01 19:00

Absolutely. Yeah, it's funny because um one of my treatments led to full-body vitaligo, which is why my hair is white. Oh, really? Oh, well, no, I didn't know that. What color was your hair before? Dirty blonde, baby, dirty blonde. Yeah. Um, and I was actually, I have two sisters, and they were the ones where we would go away and they would get burnt, and I would actually not. It was interesting. That's where it's like, it is not, it does not have to be you went through a ton of sunburns in your life, or that you're just super fair skinned. So, of course, that happened to you. No, no, it does not matter, it does not discriminate. Bob Marley died of melanoma, like that it does not discriminate for anybody.

SPEAKER_00 19:49

And and one thing that's really interesting is that young people under 40 typically, particularly people, young people under 30, do not get basal cell or squama cell because that's the extensive use of the sun. They usually get, well, they get melanoma, but it's usually due to a hormonal or genetic predisposition combined with everything else. But that's, you know, and that's obviously the nasty stuff, which you very well, you very, very, very well know. Well, Jamie, it my gosh, it's you just make my heart happy to see you flirting. And uh, I kind of stalk you on Instagram, so I keep up with the kids and you know perfect social media, the one perk. Yeah, yeah, really, really. I I get to see what you guys are up to, and I'm just so thrilled. I when I first met you, you were just on the back side of it all. Maisie was the baby still, and it it just having shared the same oncologist and the same story, and it's just I saw how hard you had to work to come out of this and all the prayers sent your way so it would happen. And I guess I just look at you and you know, I just wish what could have been for my daughter, and I'm just so glad that you're here to share your story with all these people. And I know your wish is the same as mine that your message will reach a few ears and maybe someone who has something on their skin that their gut is telling them, it's not right, it's not right, that they get in the door and maybe catch a few in the medical profession, right? We want them to pay attention, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:34

Yeah, I mean, if you know, life is always unexpected, right? Oh my god, it's very rarely expected, but if you can do something to help not have something so unexpected, right? Why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you do what you could? And because again, melanoma is it's something you can. It's something you can do something about. Absolutely. It's the only cancer you can see, right?

SPEAKER_00 22:05

Right. Right. So listen, thank you for your time. Hugs to the kids. Best to your family. Thank you so much for joining us. Of course. Anytime. All right, darling. Talk to you soon. Thank you. Okay, thank you. So, listeners, if you want to learn more about Jamie's story and, of course, all the aspects of adolescent and young adult melanoma, you can just check us out. Our website is www, of course, ClaremarieFoundation.org. We'll also have links to uh this story. We'll have, I've done a profile on Jamie on our website. We'll have that link and other information all in the notes to this episode. And of course, I want to offer a big, big thanks to our mission sponsors who make this happen for us with this podcast, Castle Biosciences and Children's Cancer Foundation. Thank you so much. So until next time, everybody, please celebrate the joy, color, and fun of the world. Get out there and have a wonderful one and live life like Claire and like Jamie. Take care.