A mother-of-five has been left with a hole in her face after dismissing life-threatening skin cancer as a ‘glasses mark’.
Narelle Krikhoff, 53, who only started wearing sun cream at 20 years old, had part of her nose removed after doctor discovered the mark was actually a cancerous lump.
Ms Krikhoff from Brisbane, Australia, was initially convinced the bump on her nose could not be dangerous due to her very healthy lifestyle, with even a doctor initially dismissing the blemish as a scratch.
Yet, after being tested again, the personal trainer was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma last month.
The growth has since been removed and left a £2 coin-sized hole on her cheek, which required more than 20 stitches.
Ms Krikhoff, a personal trainer, is speaking out to raise awareness that cancer can affect anyone.
Narelle Krikhoff has been left with a hole in her face after dismissing cancer as a ‘glasses mark’
Ms Krikhoff had part of her nose removed (pictured with scabbing after the procedure) when doctors discovered the mark was actually a life-threatening cancerous lump
She was initially convinced the bump could not be dangerous due to her very healthy lifestyle
WHAT IS BASAL CELL CARCINOMA?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma means it does not involve skin pigment cells.
BCC often appears as scabs that bleed
BCC makes up more than 80 per cent of all forms of skin cancer in the UK, with over 100,000 new cases being diagnosed every year.
It is mainly caused by overexposure to UV light from the sun or tanning beds.
BCC can occur anywhere on the body but is most common on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck and ears.
The following people are most at risk:
- People with fair skin or hair
- Those who work outdoors
- People who use sunbeds
- Those with a personal history of the condition
BCC is usually painless. Early symptoms often only include a scab that bleeds occasionally and does not heal.
Some appear as flat, red, scaly marks or have a pearl-like rim. The latter can then erode into a ulcer.
Others are lumpy with shiny nodules crossed by blood vessels.
Most BCCs can be cured, however, treatment is complex if they are left for a long time.
Treatment usually involves removing the cancerous tumour and some of the surrounding skin.
Source: British Skin Foundation and NHS Choices
‘This shows cancer can get anyone’
Ms Krikhoff said: ‘Because I wear glasses all of the time, and due to the position of the lump, I assumed it was just a mark from where they’d rubbed.
‘I often go for facials and have very good skin, so I didn’t think it would be a spot.
‘But when the mark started to bleed I knew it was time to go to the doctor to get it checked out.
‘As soon as I was told I had cancer, I was shocked because I didn’t think this would ever happen to me.
She said: ‘For the past 15-years I have had the healthiest life I possibly could and no one in my family has cancer.
‘I truly thought that I was invincible, but this just shows cancer can get anyone.
Speaking about her appearance after the procedure, Ms Krikhoff said: ‘At first, when my cancer was cut out, I felt so self-conscious and didn’t think I would ever leave the house again.
‘But now my scar is almost completely gone and I’m just happy that I had the surgery so quickly, as it could have been a lot worse.’
The growth has been removed and left a £2 coin-sized hole, which required over 20 stitches
The scar initially made Ms Krikhoff so self-conscious she thought she never leave the house
She now feels lucky the cancer did not spread and left her severely disfigured
After being told she had cancer, Ms Krikhoff had surgery performed on her a week later
‘I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right’
Ms Krikhoff first noticed the mark in May 2017 while she was on holiday.
She said: ‘The mark eventually went, but the lump was still there on my face and my skin didn’t feel normal.
‘I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right, so I decided to go to a specialist skin doctor to see what they thought.
‘As soon as the doctor looked at the mark he told me he had to do a biopsy, and just three days later I was called back into the clinic and was told it was cancer.
‘One week later I had surgery performed on me, where the doctor cut around the lump open and removed the cancer.
‘Luckily it healed really well and I had my stitches removed two weeks later – there’s still a scar, but it could’ve been a lot worse if I left it any longer.’
Ms Krikhoff (pictured before the operation) was at first told the mark was likely just a scratch
Ms Krikhoff (pictured with her husband Wayne Masteika) normally had clear skin
The fitness-obsessed personal trainer felt ‘invincible’ due to her healthy regimen
She is now speaking out to raise awareness that cancer can affect anyone