A 60-year-old woman needed surgery to remove a skin cancer on her face - after being turned away from her GP several times and given only cream to treat the lesion.
Elizabeth Williams was devastated to receive the cancer diagnosis two-and-a-half years after she first visited the doctor. And she has decided to share her story to raise awareness of the disease for World Cancer Day on Saturday, February 4.
Elizabeth, a council manager, from Dorchester, Dorset, visited her GP on multiple occasions over the years to report the lesion, which had scabbing and bleeding. In December 2017, she was given a cream to treat it.
But when she changed GPs in May 2019, she was referred to a clinic, where she underwent a biopsy. In September 2019, she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, on her left nostril.
She underwent surgery, including reconstruction of her nostril, ear skin flap, radiotherapy and de-bulking revision surgery. Elizabeth, a mother-of-two, said: "Hearing that I had cancer is a moment I’ll never forget.
''I had been to the doctor more than once about my nose, but not for one minute did I ever think it was something that serious. When I was given my diagnosis, I was devastated. As it had been there for some time, I was also worried that it might have spread.
“I’ve been left with facial scarring due to the surgery, and also had to have part of my nose reconstructed which was really distressing to go through. While I’m now cancer- free, I’m constantly worried that it’s going to come back.
''The whole experience has really taken its toll on my mental health and really knocked my confidence. At the same time, I’m so grateful to still be here and thankful for the support I’ve had.
''I know nothing will change what’s happened, but I want to make others aware of what to look out for when it comes to skin cancer. I also need some answers; I feel like it’s the least I deserve.”
When Elizabeth attended her original GP in December 2017, she was prescribed a cream to use for three to four weeks. However, no advice was given regarding what to do if the lesion hadn’t resolved in that time, and no follow-up appointment was arranged.
In May 2019 she attended another surgery and a routine referral was made to a dermatology clinic. That August, she reported swelling around the site of the lesion.
Her referral was upgraded to urgent and she underwent a biopsy later that month. She was diagnosed with skin cancer that September.
She has now instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care and whether more could have been done to diagnose and treat her cancer sooner. Alice Webster, the lawyer representing her, said: “The last few years have been incredibly difficult for Elizabeth as she struggled to come to terms with her diagnosis.
“Understandably, she also has a number of concerns over whether more could have been done to diagnose and treat her cancer sooner, given that she had attended GP appointments on various occasions regarding the lesion on her nose. While nothing can make up for what Elizabeth has been through, we’re now investigating her concerns to provide her with the answers she deserves.
“Sharing her story as part of World Cancer Day also gives Elizabeth the opportunity to raise awareness around the signs and symptoms of skin cancer. If people are concerned about their symptoms it’s vital they seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity. Early detection and treatment are key to beating cancer.”
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