Survivor Chris speaks of cancer shock and urges people to take potentially lethal melanoma seriously
A skin cancer survivor has spoken of breaking down in hospital after being told he had Stage 2 melanoma at Altnagelvin in August.
Chris Dawson (38) successfully underwent surgery to cancer that had developed from a mole on his leg three months ago.
The Templegrove man is now awaiting a follow-up histology report on tissue taken from his back on October 30.
Looking back on that day in the dermatology department when he heard the word ‘cancer’ for the first time, he says: "I started to cry. I didn't realise then what it was. I didn't know if I was going to die.
"I heard the word cancer. It was especially distressing because I didn't have anybody with me."
Chris is speaking out to encourage others to get checked out.
The number of cases of malignant melanoma in the Western Trust decreased by 12.5 per cent from 48 per year in 2018/2019 to 42 in 2021 but late stage skin cancer remains a killer.
"People just think whenever you say, 'I've got melanoma' that it's only skin cancer. But it's the largest organ in your body and it can spread very, very quickly into your lymph nodes and when it gets to your lymph nodes the prospects are not good,” says Chris.
Noticing a black spot on a mole in August he contacted his GP. A biopsy was conducted and tissue sent for analysis to the Western Trust’s histopathology lab.
“I got a letter for a review appointment which I thought was just a wound check-up because they had left the wound open and I was dressing it.
“I didn't take anyone with me because I thought it was just for a dressing change.
"I was called in and told I had Stage 2 melanoma. It was a shock. I was on my own.”
Chris was sent to Omagh where a wide local excision (WLE) was conducted to ensure they got all the abnormal tissue.
“Now I have an 11 centimetre scar above my knee. They had to do that to remove the margins to make sure it hadn't spread into the lymph nodes. Luckily it hadn't,” he said.
If he hadn't got checked out there was the possibility the cancer could have spread into the lymph nodes and developed into Stage 4 melanoma.
"That's when you are in deep water and you could die basically,” he said.
Another mole on his back was removed on October 30 by means of an ellipse total excision.
“I'm waiting on the histology report from that then now as well,” he explains.
Is that a worry?
“It's just not knowing if it is something you are always going to have and always going to have to live with,” he admits.
Chris’ main message is for people to take skin cancer seriously.
“They say an awful lot of people who work outside would get it on their head and behind their ear, on the top of their head or the nape of their neck. That's somewhere you don't see and can't check.
"So it's about getting a partner to take a picture if they notice something unusual and four weeks later to get them to take another picture and if you notice anything that's changed drastically then get to your GP straight away.”