A self-described advocate for skin cancer education, Nicole Easterday arrived for an interview looking very much the chipper young professional. In one hand was a book about cancer prevention, a subject she’s been concerned with since being diagnosed with a Clark’s Level IV melanoma two years ago.

The fast-spreading cancer has since been removed, along with four lymph nodes, and Mrs. Easterday has dedicated herself to promote awareness and prevention of the disease, particularly to those of her mid-20s age group. She recently participated in (and was a top fundraiser for) the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event at Hixson and doesn’t waste an opportunity to share information that she’s learned.

Ensconced at a corner table in a downtown coffee shop, she spoke at length about her experience as a cancer patient and survivor, and about the things that enrich her life.

How she learned she had skin cancer: “I went in to have a check-up, just to get some moles and freckles checked out as a preventative measure, because I was always lying out in the sun. Everything was fine until they got to the last mole on my body. I pointed it out to them, and they took a biopsy. The doctor called later and said it was a melanoma. I was not very educated at the time and didn’t know what he meant. Melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer, and the worst-case scenario was that I could die. That’s when it hit me. I was engaged and planning my wedding, and until then the biggest concern I had was what color flowers to use. It really put things in perspective.”

Best-case scenario: The cancer was deep but had not yet spread and was successfully removed by surgery. “I had to have 21 stitches at the incision on my stomach. That’s a lot, but they wanted to be sure they got all of the cancer’s ‘arms and legs.’”

What she does to prevent a recurrence: “I do not tan for cosmetic purposes. I don’t lie out in the sun any more, and I don’t go to tanning beds. I don’t avoid the sun – you can’t live in a bubble – but if I’m out, I have sunblock on, and I wear make-up that has SPF in it.”

Is skin cancer really something to be concerned about? “I do wish people would take it more seriously. I was talking not long ago with a gentleman in the insurance business, and when I said something about skin cancer, he said, ‘That’s no big deal. I’ve had tons of those taken off my body. It’s not like it’s going to kill you.’ I wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Skin cancer is a big deal, and when I explained a few things to him, he was at a loss for words. He just wasn’t educated about how serious it is. Skin cancer is cancer. People have died from it. How is that different from any other cancer?”

Are people becoming more educated about it? “You are seeing more about it on TV and in articles, more people are talking about it and learning about it, but it’s still at a snail’s pace, in my opinion. More awareness and education are necessary, and I feel like I need to do what I can. I love to spread the awareness, so that even if people I talk to don’t stop tanning, at least they know what melanoma is now. Maybe if they see a mole, they’ll think about getting to the doctor. At least it’s in their brain, even if it may be in a very deep filing cabinet.”

On tanning: “Tanning is a vanity, but I would have listed it as a hobby. It relaxed me. I was always in the sun during the summer – lying out, swimming, running – and in the winter I went to tanning beds. The risks would cross my mind every now and then, but I never saw them as something to really worry about. Now I want to stand outside tanning beds protesting. I still have friends who tan even though they know what I went through. I guess because they didn’t see me bald or sick and weak, it’s a lot easier to forget that my mortality was on the line. I have such wonderful friends, and when I see them tanning, I want to say, ‘Why don’t you understand?’ It’s like having lung cancer and seeing a friend light up a cigarette. There’s no difference.”

Is skin cancer something to worry about only during summer months? “Winter may be the off season for most outdoor activities, but you can get sunburn, which can lead to skin cancer, any time. It can happen on a cloudy day or outside in cold weather watching a football game.”

Is it something young people should worry about? “More young people like me are being diagnosed with it, whereas it has been something that usually affects people who are 40 or 50-plus. It’s important to educate the younger generation so that when they’re 40-plus they won’t be diagnosed with melanoma and they’ll be educating their children about it.”

When a relative or friend is diagnosed with cancer, should you talk with them about it? “It’s easier not to talk about it, but you should. Cancer is a scary thing, and for a lot of people, it helps to talk about it. It’s therapy. Be supportive, and talk about it. It sounds like easy and simple stuff, but that’s what will help the most.”

On the support she received from her husband: “He was phenomenal. He was a rock for me. You think you can’t love anyone more than you already do, but I love him even more because of all of it. Most couples our age never have to deal with this with each other, but I see us when we’re 90, holding hands and looking at each other the same way we did on the day we got married. I’m a hopeless romantic. I grew up on Disney movies. I wanted a Disney movie fairy tale, and that’s what I have.”

On the support she received from her family: “We are a very close, all-American family that had never been touched by cancer. Then all of a sudden I got hit with it, a child in the family. My mom said it’s one thing for it to be you, it’s another for it to affect your child because you as a parent have absolutely no control over it. Seeing everybody upset, seeing my dad and brother worrying about me, to see those emotions in them, it brought us all closer together. The whole family was there when I had my surgery. Without a doubt, without God and my husband and my family, I couldn’t have done it. Period. It’s as simple as that.”

Her work: Community education specialist for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County.

What is the Children’s Advocacy Center? With offices at 909 Vine Street in Chattanooga, the advocacy center provides treatment and support for children who are victims of abuse. “It’s a one-stop place, so to speak, that allows children to talk to a forensic investigator and counselors and have medical exams all in the same place. They only have to tell their story one time to everyone, so that they’re not traumatized by having to go through it several times. We’re a non-profit organization, all of our services are free, and a child can remain in counseling for as long as they need to. Money doesn’t matter. Every child is served.” For more information, visit the advocacy center’s website at www.cachc.org.

What her work involves: Developing fund raising programs, public relations, coordinating volunteers, and conducting body safety awareness classes in local schools.

On enjoying her job: “Life is too short to not wake up every day and love what I do. You have to be passionate about it.”

Her leisure time: It involves exercising (“I’m very conscious about staying in shape”), spending time with her husband (“I still get giggly when I talk about him”), associating with friends (“whether it’s shopping or just hanging out”), and cheering on the Tennessee Vols (“I bleed orange”).

On movies: “I love movies. Most of my favorites are romantic comedies. I like movies that are lighthearted and fun, that make you leave the theater with a smile on your face. There’s nothing better than that.”

On books: “I’ve read my whole life, mostly fun books, nothing too serious.” She particularly enjoys Sophie Kinsella’s series of Shopaholic novels. “Now I’m reading this book,” she added, displaying (and recommending) a trade paperback edition of Sun Protection for Life by Mary Mills Barrow and John F. Barrow.

On food: “I love Krystal, and if they served Italian food, life would be great. My favorite food would probably be spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. It’s so basic, but you can’t beat it, and nobody’s is better than my mom’s.”

In her CD player: Bob Marley and the Dave Matthews Band.

Her favorite ensemble: “Workout shorts and a t-shirt. I love my comfy clothes, and I’m always barefoot at home.”

Her philosophy of life: “I believe that everything happens for a reason, and God won’t bring you to it without bringing you through it. For me, that says it all.”