HEALTH &WELLBEING MELANOMA
AWARENESS– Asad lesson for us all
In Nov 15 the RAF Honington community pulled together to host aMelanoma Awareness Event in honour of Louise Cook.
Louise, who is married to SAC Martyn Cook, 25, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Just 15 weeks later she was told the cancer was terminal, having spread to her ovaries and brain.
In Feb 13 she met Martyn, who is in the RAF Regiment, and five months later they were overjoyed to discover she was pregnant. Louise immediately stopped using sun beds but just a month later amole on her back began to itch and bleed. Unaware it was a sign of skin cancer,Louise ignored it but Martyn’s mum urged her to get it checked out. Her GP sent her to hospital to have it removed.
“One of Louise’s wishes was to raise awareness for Melanoma and the adverse side effects of using sun beds.”
Louise was nine weeks pregnant when she was told it was acancerous melanoma and was referred to a specialist to see if the cancer had spread.
Louise stated “I wasn’t overly worried and was hopeful it had been caught early.”
Six weeks later Louise discovered a lump in her neck —she knew it was cancer and tests confirmed the worst. It was then the couple learned they were having ababy girl. Their joy was short-lived as an MRI scan revealed further lesions on Louise’s lung. The couple were told the cancer was now stage four and incurable.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Louise said: “I just cried. Iwas 24 weeks pregnant, with two small children at home, and being told Iwas terminally ill with cancer.Iasked my consultant to help me live as long as possible for the children”.
Baby Chloe was delivered at 37 weeks in perfect health, weighing 6lb 3oz. The couple married in Jun 14, when Chloe was four months old. That Dec, scans showed new lesions on Louise’s brain. Radiation therapy had been successful in reducing her brain tumours but recent scans showed more had developed in her ovaries. In Aug 15 Louise was given the awful news that she had just three months to live and finally lost her brave battle on the 12 Nov 15.
One of Louise’s wishes was to raise awareness for Melanoma and the adverse side effects of using sun beds. RAF Honington wives held a Melanoma Awareness charity day and raised £1350. One of the raffle prizes was adinner with the Stn Cdr which was won by SACClare Craze and her husband Keith. Sqn Ldr Paula Willmot cooked adelicious 3course meal and hosted alongside Gp Capt Mick Smeath. Whilst all 4enjoyed the evening; it was tinged with sadness at the loss of Louise.
Group Captain Smeath stated: “this is an extremely sad and devastating loss for all those who were touched by Louise. Her family will continue to be supported by the RAF Honington community network.”
To carry on Louise’s legacy Martyn has now become aMRF certified Melanoma
Educator.Tofind out more information contact:
www.melanoma.org
Spring 2016 37
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