‘I made a decision to fight'

Laura Davis was diagnosed with Stage 3C Malignant Melanoma nearly ten years ago when she was newly married and had a baby girl. She said her fight has made her more ambitious, and she started the company Instaglam.

“I think that I never really understood the value of life: My life and the lives of the others around me. My children, my husband, family, and friends. I was so close to losing it all, and here I am 10 years later. Healthy. Moving on. Living my life and incredibly blessed.

“When I found out the mole I had removed was melanoma, I wanted my doctor to send me where he felt I should go for treatment and do whatever needed to be done to beat it. Cost and location wasn't a factor. I just wanted to win.

“I was really young when I was diagnosed — newly married and a new baby. I traveled about four hours from home for treatments and surgeries and had to leave my husband and daughter. I also was away from the rest of my friends and family. It would have been so much easier to have everyone right there with me. It was hard missing my daughter's precious moments as a baby.

“Even after almost 10 years, it is still a hard diagnosis to deal with. As a survivor, there are lots of worries about if and when the cancer will return. It is also hard to deal with survivor guilt. I try to take all of these worries and turn them into motivation. I am so lucky to be alive, and I don't take one moment for granted.

“I feel a huge obligation to myself and others fighting cancer to live my life to the fullest and do everything I have ever wanted to do. I am a very ambitious entrepreneur, and nothing holds me back. I am a better entrepreneur because of the battle I've fought.”

Laura’s six words to describe her cancer experience are “I made a decision to fight.” Share your six words here.

Laura’s words, which were shared digitally through Tell KC, have been lightly edited for clarity.

As part of a local reporting project around the upcoming Ken Burns documentary series, Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, KCPT presents Cancer in KC.

 We want to learn more about how cancer affects our community. How has cancer impacted your life? Share your story.