Mum Told by Doctors for 10 Years Her Rash Was ‘Just Flaky Skin’ Ends Up With Massive Crater in Leg

Megan Grieves faced a harrowing health ordeal when a mole on her leg, dismissed as flaky skin by doctors for over a decade, turned out to be malignant melanoma. Now 36, Megan recalls attending over 30 GP appointments since the age of 15 when her late grandmother first expressed concern over the appearance of the mole.

Initially passed off as just dry skin and later as psoriasis, Megan was repeatedly prescribed moisturizing creams instead of getting a thorough examination. The mole on her shin grew to the size of a 10-pence piece, yet the misdiagnoses continued. It wasn’t until a different GP saw her and referred her to a dermatologist that she was finally diagnosed with melanoma at age 28 in September 2016, told The Mirror.

Following her diagnosis, Megan underwent two surgeries. The first was to remove the mole and ensure the cancer hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes. Disturbingly, the removal left a wound as wide as a cricket ball on her leg, leading to a substantial open wound that required a skin graft to cover. Despite the surgeries, Megan was left with a permanent ‘crater’ in her leg—an indelible reminder of her ordeal.

The consequences of the late diagnosis extended beyond the surgeries. Megan developed lymphedema and fibromyalgia, which cause daily swelling and chronic pain. This has significantly impacted her quality of life, preventing her from activities like standing in line at theme parks with her children due to the pain and swelling.

Megan’s experience sheds light on the critical importance of proper diagnosis and the potential dangers of dismissing persistent health issues. Despite being cleared of cancer in 2017, Megan’s life has been irrevocably changed. Her grandmother, who passed away in 2020, played a crucial role in pushing for a proper diagnosis, which Megan credits with saving her life.

The ordeal has motivated Megan to share her story, especially during melanoma awareness month on Facebook, to advocate for others to persist in seeking accurate medical evaluations. Her advice is poignant: “Don’t take no for an answer and go back to your GP again.”

Megan’s story is a stark reminder of the importance of advocating for one’s health and the severe consequences that can arise from medical oversight. It underscores the need for awareness and vigilance concerning one’s body and the signs it might be showing.