Naniki Seboni survived Stage III malignant melanoma, but hers was an arduous journey. At age twenty, she admits she was slow to seek medical attention for an unusual-looking mole on her left leg; and it was medical attention from a neurologist who noticed something wrong and sent Naniki to a dermatologist.
The dermatologist told Naniki in 2015 he needed to remove the mole, but needed to perform a biopsy, and that Naniki would need to return in a few weeks to get its results. When Naniki, of Johannesburg, South Africa, did return, she was told they had to take extra time to go over the biopsy to make sure it was correct. Naniki is black and its is very rare that black people are diagnosed with any type of cancer. However, the doctors were sure that Naniki had Stage III malignant melanoma. They explained all the details of the diagnosis and what led up to it, but Naniki says she comprehended virtually none of this vital information. All she remembered was that she was being told she had cancer, and that this was the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The closest thing to good news she received was learned she would not have to undergo chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation treatment. She was told her only treatment option would be that of a surgical intervention.
This was an extremely tough time for Naniki Seboni. At the time of her diagnosis, she was still mourning the death of her father. She was seeing a therapist, and having a difficult time coping on an emotional, psychological and spiritual basis. On top of this came her cancer diagnosis and a waiting period of six months before her treatment.
Naniki was quite relieved to learn her surgery was a success when doctors informed her she was in remission. Because it was so unusual for a black person to be diagnosed with skin cancer, her story gained quite a bit of publicity via numerous media interviews.
Naniki took this opportunity to let black South Africans know they are not immune from skin cancer, and that they, too, need to make periodic visits to a dermatologist.
Additional Resources:
Support Group:
Cancer Association of South Africa https://www.canza.org.za