As the Relay for Life of Mercer County Radiothon takes over the WRMJ airwaves today, one local woman’s story stands out as a powerful reminder of resilience, early detection, and hope.
Diane Dunn has faced cancer not once, but three times—and each time, she’s chosen to fight back with strength, optimism, and a sharp eye on her health. Her first encounter with cancer came in 2014, when she noticed a small mole on her leg that hadn’t been there before.
“I thought, well, I’ll get it checked out,” Diane said. “The doctor told me not to worry. But she called me the next day and said, ‘We need to take care of this. It’s melanoma.’”
Thankfully, the melanoma was caught early enough that Diane didn’t need radiation or chemotherapy. But years later, in 2021, her health journey took another turn when she started experiencing unusual symptoms. What she thought might be menopause turned out to be uterine (endometrial) cancer.
“That was completely cured too,” she said. “Again, I didn’t have to have radiation or treatments. I was very thankful.”
Most recently, Diane had surgery to remove a less aggressive form of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma—from her nose. It required a procedure known as Mohs surgery, and as of today, she says she’s recovering well and believes she’s cancer-free.
The words “cancer-free” are still emotional for Diane, given her family’s experience with the disease.
“My brother passed away from colon cancer. My mom survived two cancers. So it runs in my family,” she said. “But I lead a very active life now. I play pickleball, I walk, I ride my bike. It’s good to wake up every morning and tell yourself, ‘Hey, do something today.’”
Diane credits her survival in part to simply paying attention—knowing her body, spotting changes, and acting quickly.
“When I first had the melanoma, my doctor didn’t think it was anything serious. But she checked it just to be safe, and I’m glad she did,” she said. “With the uterine cancer, the symptoms didn’t seem serious at first either. But I followed through.”
She also credits the support of her local community and organizations like the American Cancer Society.
“I’ve always supported Relay for Life. In a small community like ours, I’m overjoyed by the response. It’s an incredible way to give back and to honor the people we’ve lost—and those who are still fighting.”
As Diane joins the WRMJ Radiothon today, her story is a message to others: listen to your body, act early, and never give up hope.
“Cancer can be beat,” she says. “I’m living proof.”