From CBS News: Jennifer Frederick was in the best shape of her life in 2023, so when she felt a small lump in her groin area after a week of workouts. She thought it was just a pulled muscle, but a month later, the lump was still there.
Four months later, the lump was growing. Frederick went to a dermatologist and testing found more lumps in her leg. She scheduled a biopsy. On December 14, surgeons cut into her leg and removed the largest lumps. A week later, she had a diagnosis: Metastatic malignant melanoma. The disease is usually heralded by a mole on the skin, but Frederick never had one.
More tests showed the cancer wasn’t just in her leg. One scan found four lesions on her lungs. Another found five lesions on her brain. The results were shocking, Frederick said.
“I never had a migraine, headache, blurry vision, never had problems breathing, never had a cough,” Frederick, 50, said. “I never felt off at all.”
The report explains that melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and is referred to as “metastatic melanoma” if it has spread from one location to another. It is also the type of cancer that can easily spread throughout the body.
After 18 months of treatment, Frederick continues to improve and her doctor now believes she has an excellent chance of long-term survival.
Dr. Michael Postow, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, said it’s common for melanoma to spread to the brain or lungs.
Melanoma is normally identified by a mole on the skin, which may change in color, size or texture. However, Dr. Postow noted that on some occasions, there is no mole to give the warning.
The Cleveland Clinic has posted helpful videos on YouTube about the three types of skin cancer and how to identify skin cancer:
Jen Frederick, a seemingly healthy woman, is diagnosed with late-stage metastatic melanoma despite no visible signs. Her journey through aggressive treatment and eventual recovery offers hope for others facing this challenging cancer. https://t.co/SVVrNhOVdD
— WJZ | CBS Baltimore (@wjz) July 20, 2025
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