Melanoma survivor Nick Mosenthal has the mindset that awareness is power, and so shares his experience and knowledge of melanoma prevention to help others.

Meet Nick Mosenthal: a retired mining engineer with a beautiful family and who is self-described as entering his “relaxing” part of life. His vision of his future involved time for hobbies and adventure: saxophone and art lessons, golf, bridge, swimming snorkelling and cycling, and hopefully extensions to the family were all a part of the plan. When lying in bed one night, his wife noticed a gold ball-sized lump under his left armpit, and his plans came screeching to a halt.

Nick already had a history with the disease, after having a melanoma cut out of his forearm in 2021.

'As soon as I felt the lump, I thought to myself “that’s melanoma.”’

An ultrasound, biopsy and PET scan proved his suspicions: Nick was diagnosed with Stage III melanoma.

‘I had this fear that I wasn’t going to be around to see our family develop. I didn’t know if it was worth me going on with my new hobbies. Receiving the diagnosis and not knowing if it had spread yet was the most difficult time for me.’

He was very fortunate to be able to participate in a clinical trial, involving two sets of immunotherapy three weeks apart, followed by surgery.

As a man who feels empowered by knowledge, Nick dove straight into research. On this journey, he learnt about the many options available, joined MIA’s WA support group, started an Exercise Medicine Research Institute exercise program specifically for cancer, consulted a dietitian about which foods would be best for immunotherapy and gut health, and looked into mindfulness. While he’s unsure of the extent of the effect of this holistic approach had on his very good response, he knows that it very positively impacted his mental state.

‘Despite my diagnosis, I was in a really good state of mind. I consider myself very lucky. This has strongly reinforced my wife and my attitude to make the most of every single day. We are so fortunate that medical science has advanced to where it is and continues to improve.'

Nick is now cancer free and eager to use his personal story to spread awareness around melanoma.