I’ve got a gaping hole in my foot after my verruca turned out to be deadly skin cancer
A MUM-of-three was left with a gaping hole in her foot after what she thought was a verruca on her sole turned out to be cancer.
Rachel Solvason, 40, began suffering from a pain which felt like glass sticking in the bottom of her foot in the summer of 2016.
She tried over-the-counter treatment cream but it did nothing to ease her discomfort and the spot had soon grown to the size of a penny.
Rachel, from Fernhill Heath, Worcs, went to her GP - who agreed that it looked like a verruca.
But a swab showed no evidence of the virus, so she was referred to Kidderminster Hospital for a biopsy.
She was shocked to discover the sore spot was actually malignant melanoma – a type of skin cancer.
Rachel received surgery to make sure all the cancer was removed, with so much tissue taken away that she had to have plastic surgery to replace part of her heel.
Shock diagnosis
She said: "It started when I felt what I thought was a piece of glass stuck in the bottom of my foot.
“Eventually it grew into what looked like a verruca. I treated it with over-the-counter cream but nothing seemed to work.
"Everyone I showed it to thought it was a verruca too, but by Christmas it had become the size of a penny and was quite sore to walk on.
“The diagnosis was so hard to take in. I’ve always loved the sun but I’m sure the rest of my body has seen more sun than the sole of my foot.
“Even the consultant was shocked as it didn’t look like a typical melanoma and was in an unusual place.
"I was even more shocked that I had to go home and tell my two boys I had cancer.
“The dermatologist decided to remove it there and then, so I was left with a gaping hole in the bottom of my foot.”
SPOT THE SIGNS OF MELANOMA
The most common sign of melanoma is a new mole or a change in an existing mole.
In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed. Look out for a mole which changes progressively in shape, size and/or colour.
The ABCDE checklist should help you tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma:
- Asymmetrical – melanomas have 2 very different halves and are an irregular shape
- Border – melanomas have a notched or ragged border
- Colours – melanomas will be a mix of 2 or more colours
- Diameter – most melanomas are larger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter
- Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma
Source:
Following further surgery to remove the cancer at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Rachel then noticed a lump in her groin In November 2017.
Rachel, an administrator at a GP surgery, added: “They thought it was just a cyst and I was told to enjoy my Christmas.
"But in between Christmas and New Year 2018 the biopsy results came back and showed the lump in my groin was in fact melanoma. I was devastated."
In January, she also had all her lymph nodes removed, but in summer last year the melanoma in her leg returned.
CT and MRI scans then revealed cancer in her lung, and later it was discovered in her stomach lining.
The tumour in her stomach was removed, but surgery on her lung was impossible, so she began a course of immunotherapy.
Fortunately, Rachel is now cancer free though she still has treatment every four weeks as the melanoma is likely to return.
She is now raising money for Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
Fundraising
Rachel and two of her sons, Josh, 20, and Ciaran, 15, are sporting bright socks and orange tutus to encourage people to dress up and raise money for the cause.
The admin worker, who is also mum to Lewis, 22, said: “Having cancer has been a massive rollercoaster but the worst thing about it was having to tell my sons each time it was discovered in a new place.
"To be told you're in the clear and then to be told it has spread further. Then having another operation. Its just been hard on the whole family.
“I’m a feisty person, I’ve had to be, and it gives me great pleasure to kick back at cancer by jazzing up my damaged foot and joining the Stand Up To Cancer campaign.
MORE ON SKIN CANCER
“I’ve given permission for all my samples and results to be used for research as I know science is our best way of defeating this horrible disease.”
Jane Redman, from Cancer Research UK West Midlands, said: “We are very grateful to Rachel, Josh and Ciaran for helping to raise awareness with such panache.
“Supporting Stand Up To Cancer enables scientists to explore brave new ways to fight the disease and develop radical treatments, meaning more lives are saved.”
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