A mother-of-two has been left with a hole the size of a five-cent nickel in her face after dismissing the sign of skin cancer as a ‘stubborn spot.’
Keely Jones, 40, was advised by a beautician to get a red blemish on her face seen to.
Yet, Ms Jones, from North Carolina, was convinced the bump on her temple was just a spot as she rarely exposed her skin to the sun.
After eventually seeing a doctor in September, Ms Jones was finally diagnosed with a form of skin cancer, known as basal cell carcinoma, and required more than 20 stitches after the growth was removed on November 21.
Ms Jones, who owns a beauty company, is sharing her story to warn others of the risks of skin cancer.
She said: ‘Skin cancer can happen to anyone – I hardly used tanning beds and always avoided the sun, and I still managed to end up with skin cancer.’
Keely Jones dismissed a red blemish on her face as a ‘stubborn spot’, but actually had cancer
![After the growth was removed, the mother had a hole the size of a five-cent nickel on her face](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1533300000578-5124031-image-a-2_1511861552092.jpg)
After the growth was removed, the mother had a hole the size of a five-cent nickel on her face
![Ms Jones (pictured with her daughter) required 20 stitches and three surgeries on the wound](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1547800000578-5124031-image-a-3_1511861558636.jpg)
Ms Jones (pictured with her daughter) required 20 stitches and three surgeries on the wound
‘I had to have over 20 stitches’
Ms Jones said: ‘I only ever used tanning beds when I was in my teens and I hardly went in the sun anymore, and when I was in the sun my face would always be covered.
‘I’m lucky that I got the lump removed when it did or it’s likely that the cancer would’ve spread across my face.
‘Despite the spot being so small I had to have removals three times to make sure all of the cancer was gone.
‘I had to have over 20 stitches to close up the hole. Last week I had them taken out, so now I am just left with a small scar.’
‘It was unusual for me to get a spot’
Ms Jones visited her dermatologist in September after concerns were raised about her skin.
She said: ‘I don’t usually have blemishes on my face, so it was unusual for me to get a spot.
‘I thought it was just a stubborn one, so I just continued to pick it and every time it would just scab over and bleed.
‘After going for a facial I was advised to go and see a dermatologist after the beautician noticed the spot, but it took months to get referred to a clinic.
‘After seeing the dermatologist, they decided to do a biopsy on my temple as it looked concerning.
‘A week later I received a call and was told that I had cancer.’
Ms Jones had the growth removed on November 21.
She said: ‘I had to have three more surgeries to remove the spot from my temple and to get all of the cancer out.
‘When it was removed and I saw the massive hole on my temple I was so shocked – the spot was so little, but they needed to remove so much more skin.
‘The hole was then stitched together, but luckily I had these stiches removed just last week and it’s unlikely that I will need any more surgery.
‘I’ll still have to go for checkups though because the chance of having another cancerous spot is now higher.’
![Ms Jones claims she only occasionally used tanning beds in her teens and is otherwise sun safe](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1511C00000578-5124031-image-a-4_1511861588973.jpg)
Ms Jones claims she only occasionally used tanning beds in her teens and is otherwise sun safe
![Despite being left with a prominent scar, Ms Jones feels lucky the cancer did not spread](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1511800000578-5124031-image-a-5_1511861594870.jpg)
Despite being left with a prominent scar, Ms Jones feels lucky the cancer did not spread
![Ms Jones, who normally has clear skin, used to pick at the cancerous scab that never healed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1535600000578-5124031-image-a-6_1511861600358.jpg)
Ms Jones, who normally has clear skin, used to pick at the cancerous scab that never healed
![A beautician advised she see a doctor, who performed a biopsy and told her she had cancer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1546300000578-5124031-image-a-7_1511861606154.jpg)
A beautician advised she see a doctor, who performed a biopsy and told her she had cancer
‘Skin cancer can happen to anyone’
Ms Jones is using her story to raise awareness of the risks of skin cancer.
She said: ‘For the next few weeks I can’t exercise, pick up the children or sleep on my right-hand side.
‘These photographs of me are more than unflattering and as someone who works in beauty I found it quite hard to share them.
‘But hopefully it will help at least one person learn the importance of looking after their skin.
‘Skin cancer can happen to anyone – I hardly used tanning beds and always avoided the sun, and I still managed to end up with skin cancer.’
![Despite the cancer being small, Ms Jones had a lot of skin removed to ensure it was all gone](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1545B00000578-5124031-image-a-8_1511861635494.jpg)
Despite the cancer being small, Ms Jones had a lot of skin removed to ensure it was all gone
![She is more at-risk of cancer and needs regular check-ups (pictured with ice on the wound)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1533700000578-5124031-image-a-9_1511861641629.jpg)
She is more at-risk of cancer and needs regular check-ups (pictured with ice on the wound)
![As she works in the beauty industry, Ms Jones is struggling to accept her scarred apperance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1556400000578-5124031-image-a-10_1511861648044.jpg)
As she works in the beauty industry, Ms Jones is struggling to accept her scarred apperance
![For the next few weeks, she is unable to pick up her children, exercise or sleep on her side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1535C00000578-5124031-image-a-11_1511861657423.jpg)
For the next few weeks, she is unable to pick up her children, exercise or sleep on her side
![Ms Jones wishes to raise awareness of the dangers of skin cancer to help others](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/28/09/46C1536200000578-5124031-image-a-12_1511861664334.jpg)
Ms Jones wishes to raise awareness of the dangers of skin cancer to help others