The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
‘Harmless’ spot on mum’s nose was flesh eating skin cancer
Woman’s health scare linked to sun exposure despite her wearing sun cream
A mum from Peterborough was left horrified after discovering that a ‘harmless’ spot on the end of her nose was actually skin cancer and was eating away at her flesh.
Mandy Pollard (37) was told by doctors she would lose her nose in the next 10 years if she did not get it treated and had to undergo a skin graft.
She was told the cancer was caused by the sun - even though she is not a sun worshipper. After the operation doctors sewed a sponge onto her nose to keep a skin graft against it.
The sponge was taken off last Thursday, but Mandy was left horrified after seeing the wound.
The office manager said it looked like “someone had put out a cigarette on the end of her nose” and said her son will not cuddle her now.
She has now bravely opened up about her ordeal to warn others about the dangers of skin cancer.
Mandy said: “Walking through the hospital after my sponge was taken off, I was so embarrassed. People didn’t stare, but they kind of glanced and then quickly looked away.
“The thing that really gets me is my little boy Alfie. He was really shocked when he saw me with the sponge and he didn’t want to give me a cuddle.
“Now the sponge is off I think it looks worse because it’s quite bloody so I’m nervous to see his reaction.”
The mum of Alfie (7) and Harry (3) said she first noticed the spot two years ago but “didn’t really think much about it”.
She added: “My mum had a blemish on her arm that she had removed because it was skin cancer. I thought maybe I should get it looked at.
“I still didn’t go, I waited until I was next at the doctors and I just mentioned there was a blemish on my nose.”
Mandy was referred to a dermatologist and plastic surgeon where she was told she needed a skin graft as soon as possible.
She continued: “I asked (the surgeon) what if we just leave it and he said if you don’t get this done, it’s going to eat away at your nose and in the next 10 years you’ll be back sitting in that chair being told you have to have your whole nose taken off.”