Pregnant Mother of Three Diagnosed With Melanoma in Third Trimester — Shares Recovery and Warning

Alix Robinson, a mother in her early 30s from Indiana, was already juggling twin toddlers and a full-time job when she learned she was pregnant again—just one week after her twins turned 2. What began as excitement about expanding her family turned into a frightening medical journey after she discovered a changing mole on her back.

Robinson first noticed the mole soon after the birth of her twins in 2023. At the time she assumed it was a benign pregnancy-related change: "I talked to friends and did some research—everything pointed to new moles being normal after pregnancy because of all the hormonal changes," she told Newsweek. She monitored the spot periodically but was not alarmed.

Over the next two years she continued to watch the mole, and in the fall of 2025 she noticed it growing. In January 2026 she showed it to a friend, who flagged its odd shape and a dark center—both potential warning signs. The friend urged her to see a dermatologist.

Robinson couldn't secure a dermatology appointment until March. When she was examined, the doctor was upbeat but direct: the mole needed to be biopsied. Pathology later confirmed the diagnosis—melanoma—while Robinson was about 31 weeks pregnant.

Diagnosis and Treatment During Pregnancy

Faced with the diagnosis, Robinson focused on arranging treatment that would protect both her and her unborn child. At 34 weeks she underwent a local excision to remove the melanoma and a lymph node biopsy from her armpit. The back incision healed quickly, but lymph node removal caused significant pain and sensitivity in her arm and chest.

She also developed seromas—pockets of fluid that can form after surgery—which required multiple drains and, ultimately, a small surgical opening to allow the fluid to drain safely. Robinson described the experience as painful and unpleasant, with periods of fluid leakage and wound care that added stress during an already chaotic season of life.

Despite these challenges, Robinson delivered a baby daughter in May. She says continuing to care for her family kept her focused: "You'd be surprised what you can handle when faced with obstacles. Especially as a mother, you rise to the occasion and take it day by day."

What To Watch For: The ABCDEs Of Melanoma

• Asymmetry—One half of the mole doesn't match the other.
• Border—Edges are irregular, ragged, or blurred.
• Color—Color varies across the spot and may include shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue.
• Diameter—Larger than 6 millimeters (about 1/4 inch), though melanomas can be smaller.
• Evolving—Changes in size, shape, or color over time.

Robinson has been sharing her story on social media (@alixxrobinson) to raise awareness and encourage others to take any new or changing skin lesions seriously—regardless of age or apparent health. Her experience highlights the importance of timely evaluation and follow-up when a mole changes.

"It was an additional stress on top of an already chaotic season of life with twin toddlers and a full-time job," Robinson said, describing the anxiety while waiting for surgery and test results.