Brisbane woman Emma Betts was living her dream as an aid worker in East Timor when someone suggested she have a mole on her back checked.
A year after she had it removed, melanoma showed up in most of her major organs. At 22 years of age, she was given only months to live.
Reeling from the diagnosis, Emma was shocked to learn that melanoma is now the most common cancer killer in 20 to 39 year olds.
Emma fell in love, got married and then devoted herself to a blog called Dear Melanoma. Her honest account of living with terminal cancer and her candid acceptance of her impending death endeared her to tens of thousands.
Using her newfound fame she began campaigning for better awareness of the disease among her generation and in the process has helped save others’ lives.
