I was diagnosed with metastatic stage IV melanoma in 2003 after a lymph node resection in Wichita Falls, Texas.

At that stage in my life, I was very active on the job and off, and I always felt sure that I was 100 percent healthy. In a matter of moments, I felt confused and then scared after I did some research and realized how serious the situation was. At that point, I became very angry.

The anger, I'm guessing, worked...