Author: Tonya Hocker-Conner

Taking it One Glorious Day at a Time

Posted on by Tonya Hocker-Conner

Yesterday started my “Let’s turn this into something positive day.” It was like a magic bell went off in my head. Ding! Get up, stop feeling down and let’s get to work!

Before I was diagnosed a few weeks ago, I never knew people of color could get melanoma. I wasn’t completely ignorant of the fact, I just was never personally educated on it and honestly never knew of anyone in my community that had it. I am young; I haven’t even hit my prime yet! Forty-two is the new thirty after all and I’m not a big sun lover, so how or why would I even need to know about skin cancer?

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My Journey as an African-American Woman Diagnosed With Melanoma

Posted on by Tonya Hocker-Conner

tonyafamilyOn June 17th, my day started off as usual. I was fiddling around the house preparing for my doctor’s appointment at 11:45 a.m. My spirits were good. I was a little nervous, but I was in a good place. I had some test results due back that kind of had me a tad bit worried.

When I arrived at the doctor’s office, I began to feel uneasy once I sat down in the room; but I was sure whatever the outcome, God already had it under control. My doctor came in, sat quietly and told me that my test results came back positive for stage 3 melanoma–cancer.

I looked in disbelief and asked, “How can a 42 year old African-American woman have skin cancer?” I’m mixed with a few things, but none of them is Caucasian. I took in what she said and left the room with a strong face until I saw my sweet friend waiting for me in the waiting area. That’s when I lost it.

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