Ceri's Story

Ceri Elizabeth Smith
May 31, 1986 – January 14, 2007
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After a courageous struggle, Ceri lost her battle with melanoma after just one year. At her six month check-up she found that the cancer had spread to her liver, lungs and brain. Ceri was an exceptional young woman who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A beautiful and gifted musician, she displayed tremendous bravery throughout her ordeal. Ceri was determined to tell her story so that others could be spared from the ravages of skin cancer. It is hoped that those visiting this site will heed her words.

My life was hectic and exciting before I was diagnosed with melanoma, says 19-year-old, BC cancer survivor, Ceri Smith.

Ceri was immersed in her music studies at the University of Victoria when she noticed a pimple on her face that did not want to heal. Her aunt, a nurse, advised her to immediately go to the doctor to have it checked out. It was then that Ceri was diagnosed with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

Ceri underwent surgery on her face and had a lymph node dissection to determine if the cancer had spread. Unfortunately, the pathologist did find cancer in the lymph nodes and therefore Ceri had to undergo further surgery to determine the extent of the spread. Since I was diagnosed, I have had to postpone my education and spend weeks of my young life in bed, thinking of all the things that I would have been doing if this terrible thing had not happened to me. For me, melanoma meant putting my whole world on hold during the most important stage of my life.

Thankfully Ceri did not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation but she has been left with considerable scarring. Undoubtedly the hardest part of my ordeal was the physical aspect of having the melanoma removed from my face. I had to accept that for possibly the rest of my life I would look in the mirror and never see the same face again.

Ceri, who moved to Victoria from Portsmouth, England in 1994, was not a sun worshipper. She has always burned easily and so avoided prolonged exposure to the sun. She attributes her melanoma to a period that she spent as an employee at a summer camp in Quebec. That summer I spent most of my time outdoors and had several bad burns.

Now Ceri is busy putting the pieces back together again with the help of her family. Once I was diagnosed, my whole outlook on life changed. Seeing the effect my illness had on those around me and going to sleep each night wondering whether the next day would be good or bad has made me appreciate the love of my family and friends and the life that I have been given. In my mind, I am cured and healthy and ready to jump back into the life I've worked hard to maintain. I see myself, 10 years from now, teaching my students with passion and integrity. Six months ago, I found it hard to imagine anything about my life in 10 years.

Ceri felt it was important to come forward to tell her story and raise awareness of the dangers of overexposure to the sun's rays. I hope that through publicizing my experiences I might have an effect on someone that doesn't know me personally, and I might just save them from a terrifying ordeal.