Paragraphs:Paragraphs: 1. Mari Tisera, a 20-year-old student at George Mason University, passed away from melanoma. 2. Her father, Gus Tisera, recalls the initial mole on her toe that later turned cancerous. 3. Despite treatment and toe amputation, the cancer spread, and Tisera passed away in June 2023. 4. Her parents express regret for not having her see a dermatologist for a skin exam earlier. 5. Melanoma is prevalent among young people, with sun exposure and certain types of moles as risk factors. 6. Dr. Geoffrey Gibney emphasizes the importance of promptly examining changing moles or skin lesions. 7. The earlier skin cancer is detected, the better the chances for successful treatment. 8. Tisera’s parents share their daughter’s story to raise awareness about melanoma in young people.
Her name was Mari Tisera, and her short life is now captured in family photos and videos of her dancing and happy.
The student at George Mason University in Northern Virginia was a daddy’s girl who was treated like a princess by her parents and three older brothers.
“She did whatever she wanted to me,” her father, Gus Tisera, said with a smile in a recent interview with News4.
It never occurred to him that his daughter would die at age 20 after melanoma spread to her brain, neck and spine. Her grieving parents are now warning other families to be on the lookout for melanoma as doctors see a troubling trend among teens and young adults.
‘A little small, like a strawberry’
It all started with a small mole on Tisera’s toe. When she was a freshman in college, the mole changed.
“It started growing, kind of small, like a strawberry,” her father recalled.
A biopsy later confirmed the mole was melanoma. The cancer was deep and her toe had to be amputated.
The family thought the worst was over, but it wasn’t. While Tisera tried to continue her life as a student, her cancer spread. Doctors tried to surgically remove what they could, but it was too late.
Tisera passed away in June 2023 surrounded by family and friends.
“It was a total shock”
Her parents, who live in Front Royal, Virginia, say they still think about what they could have done differently.
“I think about what we did wrong, but I — you wouldn’t believe how organized we were. We have calendars with all of her appointments. We never missed an appointment,” her mother, Viviana Tisera, said as she fought back tears.
One appointment the family never thought about in the beginning was an appointment with a dermatologist for a skin exam.
“It was a complete shock,” Mari Tisera’s father said of the moment they learned she had melanoma.
There was no history of skin cancer in her family, and her parents thought melanomas mainly affected older adults, people with lighter skin, and sun worshippers. That was not the case with their daughter.
Doctors see melanoma in young people
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the second most common cancer in 15 to 19 year olds and the most common cancer in young adults between the ages of 25 and 29.
Although sun exposure is the biggest risk factor, people with certain types of moles may also be at risk.
Watch out for large moles in particular, said Dr. Geoffrey Gibney, an oncologist at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. Melanoma can develop in moles or birthmarks, and even on parts of the body that aren’t exposed to the sun.
Possible warning signs of skin cancer include:
- a new mole
- a mole that has grown
- a mole that has changed in size or color
- a mole that starts to itch or bleed
One in five adults will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
“A mole that changes really deserves more urgent investigation,” Gibney said.
The sooner you have something checked, the better.
“When we see an abnormal skin lesion, it’s important to see a dermatologist, and you don’t want to delay it,” he said. “We want to detect skin cancers earlier in their development, not later, when there’s a higher risk for the patient.”
Tisera’s parents said they hope sharing their late daughter’s story will help others. Time with her is what they wish they could have back.
“Coming in every weekend and saying, ‘I’m here! The princess is here!’” her mother said. “That’s what I miss the most.”
