Out of This World

Video by Lance Cpl. Melissa Ugalde

Having Cancer in the Corps

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Dec. 17, 2020 | 2:13

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Melissa Ugalde, a combat videographer with Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, explains what it was like to receive her diagnosis of Stage 4 Hodgkins lymphoma, Dec. 17, 2020, from her home in Oceanside, California. Ugalde recently started chemotherapy treatment to combat her cancer, and decided to proactively shave her head during a video teleconference with her family and friends. While the road ahead of her will be challenging, she is looking forward to beating cancer and continuing her career as a U.S. Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Melissa I. Ugalde)