Published: June 01, 2007 10:03 am      

Survivor: Danielle Buis

In May 2005, Danielle Buis' life changed. While she and her friends were preparing for their junior high school prom, she was told by her doctor that she had skin cancer. Like many girls her age, Danielle enjoyed being in the sun and many times had made a decision to get into a tanning bed. The doctor’s words that day changed her life forever.

In many ways, Danielle has her alert brother to thank. One day her brother was in a doctor’s office and noticed a chart showing abnormal moles and promptly told Danielle to get the mole on her leg checked by the doctor.

Danielle underwent surgery in May 2005 to remove the skin cancer. She says that the love and support of her family, friends, school and Casey County community have helped her through her journey with cancer.

An optimistic young woman, Danielle has turned this experience into a mission to educate others about skin cancer and the dangers of tanning beds. In fact, Danielle, now 19, took action by getting a law passed in 2006. With the help of Representative Jimmy Higdon, House Bill 151 became law stating that anyone under 14 years of age using a tanning bed must have a parent present, and anyone under 18 years of age must have parental consent to use a tanning bed.

She says that getting cancer made her realize that anyone at anytime can get cancer, even a teenage girl.

Danielle offers this advice to those recently diagnosed with cancer, “Hang in there. It will get better and this experience could even change your life for the better.” She says the American Cancer Society is a wonderful organization and will continue working with them for many years to come. Danielle served as this year’s mission chair for Casey County’s Relay for Life event. Currently, Danielle is a sophomore at Eastern Kentucky University where she is active in Colleges Against Cancer.

For more information about skin cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org. Relay For Life of Pulaski County will be held on Friday, June 15 at 6 p.m. at Somerset Community College.