"I just ignored the spot on my face..." Had to cut off the cheek and stitch '150 stitches' for a woman in her 60s [Health Talk]

[Financial News] The story of a woman who developed a brown spot on her face that gradually spread, requiring the entire cheek to be resected, has been reported. 

According to a report by the British daily The Sun, Janet Thomas (63), residing in Swansea, Wales, discovered a brown spot on her right cheek in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown. Janet, who had been attentive to skincare, considered it a mere blemish and did not take it seriously. However, the spot developed into a fatal skin cancer while she was hospitalized for pneumonia and pleurisy the following year.


In April 2024, Janet, who had fallen into a coma due to pneumonia, found that her facial pigmentation lesion had worsened in the hospital. She was diagnosed with skin cancer through dermatological consultation.

Ultimately, a biopsy revealed that simple lesion excision was insufficient. She underwent a 5-hour extensive resection surgery, including the right cheek and neck area. The surgery significantly altered the shape of her face, requiring 150 stitches and metal staples to excise and suture the skin.

After the surgery, Janet experienced severe changes in appearance and mental shock, making her reluctant to go out. She lamented, "I can't look in the mirror." Janet is seeking support on GoFundMe for medical expenses, living costs, dentures, and facial prosthetics.


Failing to detect skin cancer early can lead to such outcomes. It particularly shows that it can develop into an invasive tumor, threatening life. Skin cancer can be treated with local excision if detected early, but if delayed, extensive surgery and immunotherapy may be necessary. Pigmentation lesions due to UV exposure may be early signs of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, so if there are changes in the skin, seek expert consultation immediately. The British Association of Dermatologists (UK BAD) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend annual skin cancer screenings.


hsg@fnnews.com Seunggon Han, reporter