'All those years of sunbathing... it's just not worth it'
A Sleaford woman shares her journey with skin cancer and urges others to be persistent when something's not right
A Sleaford woman share her journey with skin cancer, from a bleeding mole to palliative care.
"My story started in June 2011. I'd had this mole, just below my knee.
"I'd been to the doctor quite a few times with it, and they said 'it's nothing to worry about - but we could take it off for cosmetic reasons'
"and me being a bit of a wuss said it's fine. We'll leave it... then it started bleeding."
Karen Powell first noticed something was wrong when she had concerns over a mole on her leg.
She'd been to a doctor and had it assessed multiple times but was told there was nothing to worry about. Until it bled:
"I was sent straight to dermatology and I had that mole removed.
"I was then told, at that stage, I had a melanoma.
"I didn't know anything about melanoma. If I'm honest, I'd heard of skin cancer, but not how bad melanoma is."
Karen says she had to travel to Leicester Hospital afterwards to had more skin removed - she says it's a part of her body that is now "affectionately known as a shark bite":
"It's a big chunk of my leg missing, that's why it's called that."
She said that after the ordeal; it was tough, she was in for regular check-ups and everything else was fine... she was discharge in September 2016.
Karen told us she felt like getting on with life and forgot about the melanoma.
Until June 2019:
"I found a lump in my groin area, and it was on the same leg as my mole had been.
"I knew straight away before I went to the doctor what it was... and it was."
Karen found herself back in Leicester Hospital after seeing a dermatologist and taken for tests.
She says she had 10 lymph nodes removed:
"Trust me, it's not a very nice operation, and I now have to wear compression on that leg because obviously you've lost your lymph nodes, and it can't work properly.
"In January 2020, I was actually put on palliative immunotherapy treatment, because I am stage four."
Palliative care is about improving the quality of life of anyone facing a life-threatening condition. It includes physical, emotional and spiritual care.
Stage 4 is the most advanced phase of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. Which means the cancer has spread from the lymph nodes, to other organs.
"To hear those words... palliative treatment. Believe me; all those years of sunbathing, it's just not worth it.
"I do regret my years of sunbathing - I never went on a sunbed - but the sun is just as dangerous. Even in this country.
"I mean, I used to chase the sun around the garden because I loved a tan, I loved the sun, but I was rarely protected with sunscreen and shade."
She says she's eager for others to enjoy the sun and it's joy, but to wear sunscreen and be safe.
"Unfortunately, I don't enjoy the summer anymore because I do have to be extra careful... I would just love to wear normal clothing again, but I can't wear shorts, particularly because of my shark bite - you know, it's a disfigurement and I've now got the other scars as well.
"Yeah, unfortunately, melanoma and the subsequent scars have changed me forever and took the summer away from me."
Karen is currently clear with no evidence of disease.
She says it's a miracle:
"When you're put on palliative treatment, and only given about three years to live... that was four years ago. So I'm doing pretty well."
She continues to have regular checks every four months, and checks her body for any lumps or change in moles.
She wears compression on her leg each day, and still finds the impact of this disease very hard. But she remains positive, and wishes for others to learn from her story.
To find out more about skin cancer go to NHS.