Interview - Melanoma Survivor Mariena Browning
I love sharing about local, small businesses. Mariena Browning is SO SWEET … and I just knew that I had to share her story because she is also a Melanoma Survivor. May is Skin Cancer Awareness month. I recommend getting checked once a year by a dermatologist. I’ve been twice now and each time is a great experience. Without further ado, here is Mariena’s story.
My name is Mariena Browning and I am 26 years old. I was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in September of 2018 at 22 years old and my scans in January 2022 showed NED (no evidence of disease) I’ve been married to my husband Trevor for almost 6 years, we live in Pocatello with our mini labradoodle Coop. I work for Farm Bureau and own Browning Bakery specializing in gourmet cupcakes. (@browningbakery on Instagram and Facebook!)
I noticed a lump in my left groin that was growing and multiplying quickly, after an ultrasound and biopsy I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. I was referred to the Hunstman cancer Institute in Salt Lake City where they did a full skin check and removed any moles. All the biopsies came back benign meaning that my cancer had no primary source.
About two weeks after I was diagnosed I started noticing more lumps showing up throughout my body like on my stomach and the back of my neck. My doctors recommended that I start Target therapy which is an oral chemo pill that you take daily, that worked for about seven months before the side effects became too severe leaving me in the hospital multiple times and the cancer spread to my brain.
After the cancer spread to my brain I had brain radiation and started combination immunotherapy drugs. The side effects of those drugs were also too severe leaving me hospitalized with a toxic liver. After that hospitalization I had to quit treatment and was put on prednisone for about six months to help heal my liver. After that six months I was able to start a single immunotherapy drug which worked well for me.
I had my last treatment of that in October 20 21 and now I have follow-up scans every three months along with skin checks to make sure nothing is showing up. I’ve always been fairly cautious in the sun I never really went tanning beds or anything like that but since being diagnosed I definitely make sure that I am using sunscreen and replying every 80 minutes when I’m outside, I use facial sunscreen every day (not just the sunscreen in your make up because that is completely different) I also try by best to stay out of the sun and wear protective clothing. If I want a tan I will get a spray tan or use self tanning mousse. I share a lot of my favorite self tanners and sun protective products on my personal Instagram @marienabrowning.
Even though my cancer wasn’t from the sun, I still do my best to spread melanoma awareness. I would love everyone to be more aware of the damage the sun can do, I tan from the sun or a tanning bed is not worth melanoma. I also always suggest to get anything suspicious looked at, it’s better to be safe than sorry and catching it early on is key! If I can help even one person from getting melanoma I’d be so happy!