Mother's itchy birthmark turns out be cancerous
Mother’s tiny itchy birthmark on her palm turned out be SKIN CANCER needing removal and two skin grafts from her thigh
- Kristina Findalen, 37, from Copenhagen, had a birthmark on her palm
- While on holiday in Italy in August 2018 she noticed it became itchy and grew
- Her doctor referred her to a dermatologist who sent her for a biopsy
- She was suffering from stage one melanoma, a common type of skin cancer
- She had operation to remove it followed by a skin graft from her thigh
- But medics damaged nerve in finger, meaning she needed another operation
- The second operation replaced the nerve and did second skin graft
A mother-of-two who had an itchy birthmark on the palm of her hand was shocked to find out it was cancerous.
Kristina Findalen, 37, from Copenhagen in Denmark, noticed her birthmark began to itch, grow in size and lose its colour in 2018.
Ms Findalen was referred to a dermatologist by her doctor, who was not initially concerned about the birthmark.
But three months later, she was sent for a biopsy which revealed she had developed stage one melanoma, a common type of skin cancer.
The diagnosis was made harder for Ms Findalen because it came just 18 months after she had split from her husband of 17 years, who killed himself five months later, leaving her as a single mother.
The saleswoman needed an operation to remove the birthmark followed by two skin grafts from her thigh, leaving her with a gruesome scar.
The first sign of melanoma is typically a new spot or a change in shape or colour of an existing mole or mark, often unrecognisable.
Mother-of-two Kristina Findalen, from Copenhagen, Denmark, who had an itchy birthmark on the palm of her hand which turned out to be cancerous needed an operation to remove it, followed by two skin grafts from her thigh
Ms Findalen had to have a biopsy on her hand which revealed the birthmark had become stage one melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Pictured: Ms Findalen’s hand after her biopsy
She then needed a skin graft from her thigh to replace the skin she lost during the removal operation. Pictured: The mother’s hand after her procedure
Speaking of the moment after she was diagnosed with skin cancer, Ms Findalen said: ‘Normally when you hear “cancer” you associate it with death.
‘I was in shock and thought it was nothing, it was just a birthmark, and I didn’t see that it could be cancer really.
‘They [the doctors] said that they had to remove it surgically, that was the best outcome with melanoma.
‘I went into survival mode. My kids only have me after their dad died in May 2017, so I refused to think that I wouldn’t beat this sickness.
‘We had just kind of got back to normal, well as normal as possible, and then I got this diagnosis and it came crashing down all over again.’
Ms Findalen’s birthmark was just a small brown dot until she noticed it changing while on holiday in Italy with her father and children in August 2018.
She sprang into action on her return home to make sure she got it checked.
Ms Findalen was sent for a biopsy on her birthmark by a dermatologist who she was referred to by her doctor
Ms Findalen had the cancerous tissue removed, leaving a gaping circular patch on her hand. Doctors then used skin from her thigh to cover the area, but accidentally damaged a nerve in her finger, meaning she needed a second operation. Pictured: Before and after the skin graft
The diagnosis was made harder for Ms Findalen because it came just 18 months after she had split from her husband of 17 years, who killed himself five months later
Doctors took a patch of skin from Ms Findalen’s thigh to cover the area on her palm left exposed. Pictured: The area of skin on Ms Findalen’s thigh which doctors took to repair her palm
‘Summer 2018 I noticed it had changed colour and gotten bigger and started to itch,’ she said.
‘It was just a little brown dot and then around the summer time we were in Italy for three weeks and it’s because my dad has some spots on his back and I said to him, “I would go to the doctor with these ones” and he didn’t want to.
‘I looked at my hand and it was starting to itch also and then it [the birthmark] lost its colour and it got twice the size so I thought I better get it checked out.
‘I can’t say go to the doctor to my dad and not do it myself.’
The mother was sent to a specialist dermatologist by her doctor, but she then had to wait three months until November before seeing the expert.
‘As soon as I could I went to the doctors and she sent me to a specialist dermatologist,’ she said.
The operation to remove the skin cancer left a huge circular wound on Ms Findalen’s palm
Ms Findalen’s birthmark was just a small brown dot until she noticed it changing while on her family holiday in August 2018. Pictured: Her right palm after the skin graft
Fortunately, Ms Findalen’s skin cancer was caught early and was in its earliest stage, making it easier to treat. Pictured: The patch of skin on Ms Findalen’s thigh which doctors used to replace the skin on her palm
DO BIRTHMARKS RAISE SKIN CANCER RISK?
Birthmarks are coloured marks on the skin and there are many different types.
Most birthmarks, such as the common port wine stains and strawberry marks, carry no risk of developing into a cancer.
But a very rare type, called a giant congenital melanocytic naevus, can develop into a melanoma if it is larger than 20cm.
Doctors recommend that you check all birthmarks regularly for any signs of change.
‘There was about three months of waiting and when I got to her she was like, “I will send you to the cancer unit immediately”.
‘Two days after I was at the dermatologists I had to go to the hospital.
‘They took the biopsy and then ran tests and I got an answer ten days later- I was going to the hospital to have the stitches taken out [of the biopsy] so I got the results then.’
Fortunately, Ms Findalen’s skin cancer was caught early and was in its earliest stage, making it easier to treat.
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK with around 13,500 new cases diagnosed each year.
More than 2,000 people die every year in the UK from melanoma, but survival rates are increasing.
Ms Findalen was told that surgery to remove the cancer and replace the lost tissue with a skin graft from her thigh was the best way to deal with it.
She said: ‘On December 3, I had my first surgery where they removed my cancer and skin graft from my thigh.
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK with around 13,500 new cases diagnosed each year. Pictured: Ms Findalen
The mother-of-two is hoping that by sharing her story she can spread awareness about melanoma
‘They unfortunately damaged a nerve to my little finger- it is a risk with the surgery because in the hand you have no fat layer, it’s all muscle and bone and nerves its very compact.’
After the operation, she was given the all-clear by medics, but then needed another operation in May 2019 to replace her damaged nerve with a donor nerve and to re-cover the area with another graft.
Unfortunately, Ms Findalen still has problems with the damage caused in the surgery, but said she hopes that sharing her story will help others going through a similar diagnosis.
She said: ‘I’ve never heard of anyone having it in the hand. I couldn’t find any references online because there weren’t any, so I think the more people share, the more enlightened other people can get.’
WHAT IS MELANOMA AND HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT?
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It happens after the DNA in skin cells is damaged (typically due to harmful UV rays) and then not repaired so it triggers mutations that can form malignant tumors.
Around 15,900 new cases occur every year in the UK, with 2,285 Britons dying from the disease in 2016, according to Cancer Research UK statistics.
Causes
- Sun exposure: UV and UVB rays from the sun and tanning beds are harmful to the skin
- Moles: The more moles you have, the greater the risk for getting melanoma
- Skin type: Fairer skin has a higher risk for getting melanoma
- Hair color: Red heads are more at risk than others
- Personal history: If you’ve had melanoma once, then you are more likely to get it again
- Family history: If previous relatives have been diagnosed, then that increases your risk
Treatment
- Removal of the melanoma:
This can be done by removing the entire section of the tumor or by the surgeon removing the skin layer by layer. When a surgeon removes it layer by layer, this helps them figure out exactly where the cancer stops so they don’t have to remove more skin than is necessary.
- Skin grafting:
The patient can decide to use a skin graft if the surgery has left behind discoloration or an indent.
- Immunotherapy, radiation treatment or chemotherapy:
This is needed if the cancer reaches stage III or IV. That means that the cancerous cells have spread to the lymph nodes or other organs in the body.
Prevention
- Use sunscreen and do not burn
- Avoid tanning outside and in beds
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside
- Keep newborns out of the sun
- Examine your skin every month
- See your physician every year for a skin exam
Source: Skin Cancer Foundation and American Cancer Society
Source: Read Full Article