Skin cancer is one of the most insidious forms of cancer. Because it appears in the form of a malignant mole, and most of us have plenty of normal, cancer-free ones, it can be hard to spot.
However, we generally all feel that if we keep our skin checks up to date, use sun protection and self-monitor our existing moles, we’ll be sweet. The sad situation is, sometimes even this level of diligence isn’t enough.
Leah DeBono was 25 when she spotted a mole that didn’t look okay on her arm. It was a red lump, and she visited not one, but two doctors to check if the mole was dangerous or not. Both assured her that there was nothing to worry about.
It wasn’t until she went to get the mole removed for cosmetic reasons that she was informed it was actually a stage-four malignant melanoma.
After having the melanoma and lymph nodes around it removed in 2013, she was given the all clear – but even though she went for regular check ups over the next three years, a month after getting married, Leah started to feel unwell.
A GP she visited told her it was likely just wedding stress – even though he was aware of her cancer history. But after collapsing at work, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread throughout her body, into her brain, liver, spleen and bones.
“At the time of our wedding she was riddled with cancer. She would have had a brain tumour at that stage as well,” her husband Ben told 60 Minutes.
Leah sadly passed away 2 months later from the cancer, and her family are holding the numerous misdiagnoses responsible.
“The GP looked at it, assured her that there was nothing. Some trained professionals may not have done their job properly,” her father Rex told 60 Minutes.
“It really makes you angry some days where things could be different if certain people did certain things,” Ben adds.
Ben stressed that anyone concerned about a mole should trust their gut.
“Trust your instinct and get a second opinion, get a third, get a fourth,” he told 60 Minutes.
