I beat cancer to be a teacher
ANEWLY-QUALIFIED teacher was determined that nothing would stop her pursuing her dream of being in the classroom, even when her ear was removed due to skin cancer.
Edge Hill University graduate Lauren McFerran, 22, who was treated at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, first noticed a mole on her ear when she went to get a piercing in December, 2014.
A biopsy followed and the decision was made to remove the tip of her ear and lymph nodes from her neck.
Lauren, who has never used sunbeds and doesn’t like sunbathing, was studying for her English degree at Liverpool University during her treatment.
She graduated last summer and was accepted at Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, for a primary teaching course.
However, during a holiday in Yorkshire before she started at Edge Hill, she noticed markings on her face and had a further biopsy which showed the melanoma had spread. She got the news that she needed further treatment during a class, but continued with her studies and was on work placement in a school when she had surgery at Whiston Hospital for the whole of her ear to be removed.
Lauren said: “A few of the children asked questions about it but I have learned to live with it.”
Luckily, her hearing hasn’t been affected and she is being fitted for a prosthetic ear at Whiston Hospital.
Lauren is now urging people to be aware of their skin. She said: “I’m not a sun worshipper, so if I can get skin cancer anyone can.”
Lauren has had skin grafts from her arm and groin to repair the damage to her cheek.
She also had radiotherapy over six weeks at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
During her treatment, she only took two weeks off from her school placement and last month graduated as a teacher.
Lauren said: “I wasn’t going to sit about feeling sorry for myself. The staff at Clatterbridge were really great and let me have my sessions after school placement. I did my other studies when I could.” Lauren is organising a charity event that will take place in January to raise funds for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity and Teenage Cancer Trust.
She is appealing to local businesses to donate raffle and auction prizes.
Anne Temple-Murray, consultant in Clinical Oncology at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Lauren is an exceptional young woman. She has had a very positive attitude to her surgery and radiotherapy, both tough treatments to go through whatever the age of the patient.
“She continued to study and work throughout her six-week course of radiotherapy at Clatterbridge and was unfailingly cheerful even when the side effects became more difficult.
“Melanoma is a skin cancer that is increasing across all ages, including young people. Young women are affected more than young men and this could be related to episodes of sunburn and the use of sunbeds. This is not always the case however, as seen with Lauren, from Wallasey, who has looked after her skin and avoided over-exposure to the sun.
“Genetic factors can increase a young person’s risk of developing melanoma, such as fair skin, red or blonde hair, increased numbers of moles and family history.
“They should check their skin regularly, and see their GP if they notice any worrying changes in new or long-standing moles.”