Marie Sylvia’s story is a poignant reminder of the importance of advocating for one’s own health and being proactive in seeking medical help when something appears to be wrong. Despite initially mistaking the brown streak under her nail for a harmless mole, Sylvia’s persistence in searching for answers eventually led to the early detection of subungual melanoma. By sharing her journey on TikTok, Sylvia not only raised awareness of this rare form of skin cancer but also inspired others to prioritize their health and get regular screenings. Her courage to face her diagnosis and her determination to encourage others to do the same exemplify the power of personal storytelling in promoting health awareness and early intervention. As we reflect on Sylvia’s journey, may we all be inspired to listen to our bodies, advocate for our health, and take proactive steps for prevention and early detection.
Twenty-five-year-old Maria Sylvia has had a “cool” brown strip under her nail for the last 10 years of her life.
Before she revealed the truth about her “cool streak” from a viral TikTok video, the young lady took great satisfaction from it.
When Sylvia first saw the mark on her thumb at the age of sixteen, she thought it was just an ordinary mark on her nail bed. However, nine years later, a doctor diagnosed her with subungual melanoma, a rare type of skin cancer that forms under the nails.
In a video she posted on TikTok to share her news with friends and fans, Sylvia had over nineteen million views in just two weeks.
More and more people are watching her video to understand subungual melanoma and the risks a person can face with this disease.
With an on-screen caption that read: “Me: I’ve had it for ten years, I thought it was a great nail strip,” “It’s cancer.”
After getting a lot of attention in her post about skin cancer spreading under her thumbnail, Sylvia decided to use TikTok videos to offer a series of updates.
She explained that the streak was extremely faint when she first saw it in December 2012. But as time went on, things got worse until she finally realized she had a rare type of cancer.
“I visited doctors. I spent a lot of time in and out of the doctor’s office. I had annual checkups because I was an athlete,” she noted.
“Nobody really noticed until the doctor did.
They said, ‘That’s weird, but you don’t really fit the demographic, so go see a doctor if it gets bigger,’ which was probably in 2014. Of course, I’m sure it had reached its maximum growth by then.”
She never sought treatment for the “cold streak” under her nails because she never had any problems with it.
“I didn’t have any pain with it so I just thought it was a mole because they told me it was probably a mole in the nail bed,” she explained.
Fortunately, a friend encouraged her to have a biopsy. The result was cancer. Since the cancer was stage 0, it had not yet spread below the outer layer of her skin.
“I was informed that this cancer can remain in situ (also known as stage 0) for 10-13 years before it reaches stage 1,” she told Newsweek.
“I was relieved to look at it when I did, but I knew there was still work to be done to get rid of this cancer.”
Sylvia is now urging everyone to get screened for cancer.
“I think some people are afraid to face the possibility of having cancer and to face their mortality,” she told Newsweek.
“Relieving and seeing someone through is the most important thing I’ve pushed for. Having a bunion for a month or two is better than none at all if it’s caught early and treated well.”
Marie Sylvia’s story serves as a powerful reminder of how important it is to pay attention to changes in our bodies and seek medical help when needed. Her journey from initially dismissing the “cold streak” under the nail to the diagnosis of subungual melanoma underscores the importance of early detection and proactive health measures. By sharing her experience on TikTok, Sylvia not only raised awareness about this rare form of skin cancer but also encouraged others to prioritize their health and get regular cancer screenings. Her advocacy for proactive health care is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for positive impact that comes from sharing personal stories. As we reflect on Sylvia’s journey, may we all be inspired to take responsibility for our health and seek medical help when needed, knowing that early detection can make a big difference to our well-being.