‘GP turned me away after seeing my mole – later I feared I was going to die’

A teacher has revealed how her concerns over a “funny-looking” mole on her neck were initially dismissed by a doctor.

Darcy Shaw, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire, was given the devastating news that it was cancer just three months later by hospital doctors.

The 21-year-old confessed she “started to panic” and feared she was “going to die”. “It was my mum who noticed it first,” she told NeedToKnow.

Darcy recalled: “I was at home, visiting from university, and she spotted a mole on my collarbone that was getting larger and darker. She encouraged me to go to the GP and I had an appointment for something else already in the diary, so thought it couldn’t hurt to mention this too.

“I felt silly pointing out a funny-looking mole as I didn’t know that changing moles were a sign of potential cancer. I was initially turned away by my GP, who said that the changes were nothing to worry about.”

Despite being dismissed by her GP, Darcy still felt uneasy, sensing that something wasn’t quite right. Her mum, Tracy, 52, also shared her concerns.

They took photos of the mole to monitor any changes and, after noticing further alterations, they returned to the doctor and demanded answers. Darcy was then referred to the hospital to have the mole biopsied and the results revealed she had melanoma.

She recounted the chilling moment cancer was confirmed, saying: “I very clearly remember being told I had cancer. There was a doctor, a nurse and a person from a cancer charity in the room. I immediately knew something was wrong.”

At 21, she faced the news alone, panic setting in as she heard the word melanoma for the first time: “I was 21 and on my own at the appointment – I started to panic. I had never heard of melanoma before, so when the doctor told me I had it, at first I didn’t know what he meant.”

Overwhelmed by emotions and fearing the worst, she continued: “All sorts of emotions were spinning around including an initial feeling of grief. I thought I was going to die. It was scary as I had no idea about the signs of skin cancer and I didn’t see it coming so I went to the appointment by myself.”

Reflecting on her frustration with the healthcare process, she added: “Yes [I was angry and] felt that my concerns weren’t taken seriously and think back now about what could have happened if I didn’t go back.”

Fortunately, early detection offered hope: “They said it wasn’t very far along and they had caught it early. The lead nurse immediately gave me support by directing me to a Teenage Cancer Trust support group, which was a relief.”

The support system allowed for a much-needed outlet: “The nurse also allowed me to call them whenever I needed to, to talk about my diagnosis and worries. [But] the doctors couldn’t pinpoint how I’d got skin cancer.”

The cause remained a mystery: “They asked about whether I’d ever badly burnt myself but I’m pale with reddish hair and I avoid the sun. I’m glad they didn’t try to say that it was my lifestyle that may have caused it.”

Though the treatment was effective, fear of recurrence still looms over her life.

Darcy, who is being supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust, revealed: “There was a chance that it could have spread to my lymph nodes so I’ve had regular scans since to check for this but fortunately it hasn’t.

“[After the surgery], I was terrified of being in the sun. I even cancelled a sunny holiday abroad because of it six months later and spent loads [of money] on sun creams, sun protective clothing, etc.

“[I also became] very obsessive [about moles on my body], constantly asking people to check them and wanting to see doctors about them. |[I also felt sad by the sight of my scars], especially the one on my chest as it’s visible most of the time.

“I assumed that when I’d had the surgery and been given the all-clear then I’d get a pat on the back and be sent on my way and be fine.

“But it’s not like that. I had the treatment but I was left with scars and the emotions I experienced when I was first diagnosed are still very much there today. I still have to have scans and waiting for them makes me really nervous. The scars are really prominent, too.

“[In the beginning], I was worried about the students I teach, especially asking about it and having to explain. It still happens but I’m confident and happy to talk about it now, and like to educate my students on skin cancer.”

Darcy discovered a supportive community in the Teenager Cancer Trust Youth Support group. She shared: “I was invited by the charity to join a Facebook group which allowed me to chat with other young people in a similar situation to me.”

She found camaraderie and comfort talking about her journey: “One girl in the group was also diagnosed with skin cancer around the same time. We spoke quite a lot about our treatment and I found that really helpful.”

Five years after Darcy underwent surgery, her cancer has not returned. Initially unaware of cancer symptoms, Darcy now dedicates her efforts to educating other youngsters on this critical issue.

Driven to spread awareness, Darcy urges teens to be vigilant about the five most common signs of cancer.

Highlighting the importance of checking any abnormalities, she advised: “If you notice something is wrong, never think that you’re wasting someone’s time getting something checked out.”

Continuing her heartfelt message, Darcy said: “It’s easy to pass off something you’ve noticed and put it down to stress or a common illness, especially when you might feel that you can’t go to the doctor or it’s not as important.”

She concluded with life-saving advice: “But getting something checked out sooner rather than later could save your life.”

For more information on melanoma, visit the NHS website here.