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Sarah Lee explains her journey to discover that she had melanoma and the importance of seeking qualified medical support.
There is no point in shying away from what happened to Sarah. She found what might be a problematic mole on her scalp and quite rightly sought medical advice, only to be given a wrong diagnosis by more than one doctor.
Having the will and confidence to push for further opinions and a biopsy ultimately saw Sarah receive a correct diagnosis, of stage 3 melanoma.
By this time the cancer had spread, requiring significant surgery to remove all traces from her scalp and to remove 24 lymph nodes. This will be followed by months of unpleasant drug treatment, to prevent the melanoma from coming back.
Dedicated Knowledge
There is no suggestion of deliberate misdiagnosis, just the reality that many doctors do not have a thorough knowledge of skin cancer. So what started with Sarah checking her highlights, took her on a path which shouldn’t happen.
Misconceptions became evident, younger people can get skin cancer, this can appear on the scalp, what may look like a fungus is not.
Even so, Sarah is still encouraging people to be aware of skin changes and to seek medical advice. In particular to push for a view from a skin cancer specialist if you feel that any doubt remains.
She is also encouraging people not to underestimate the power the sun has to bring unwanted DNA changes. Emphasising a need to protect yourself from a condition which can affect more than your skin.
Beyond Surface Damage
There are other forms of skin cancer which the sun causes that can bring wider damage, such as squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma is still the most dangerous by far, with an ability to spread to vital organs.
Guides to spotting melanoma are around and helpful but this can take a wide variety of forms. Cases are possible beyond your visible skin, on the scalp, in your eye, in mucosal areas such as your nose and mouth, or other hard to see places.
The condition is not rare and case numbers are growing, around 17,000 people a year are diagnosed with melanoma in the UK. Treatment has advanced but later stage cases could still prove fatal, early detection and intervention are vital.
Taking A Safer Route
Sarah has been honest about the difficulties melanoma brought. Initial shock, claustrophobic scans, radical surgery, nerve damage for a while, symptoms from longer term treatment, the effect on her mental health.
She still had the courage to share her journey in public and to share key messages. They include not getting sunburnt and using sunscreen but above all, a need to be aware and to seek professional support.
We are here to help with skin cancer diagnosis if you wish, or visit a specialist clinic wherever you may be. The core message is to avoid delay.