Brushing off a new lump or bump as ‘just a cyst’ or a harmless quirk of getting older is easy. But for one man, what seemed like a minor skin change was a deadly warning sign that would change his life forever.
His story powerfully reminds us to pay close attention to our skin and never ignore anything unusual.
Stuart Smith, a 40-year-old accountant from Essex, was enjoying a holiday in Cornwall with his wife when he noticed a small, grape-sized lump on the side of his neck. Like many of us might, he and his wife Lauren assumed it was nothing more than a cyst.
‘We’d pretty much diagnosed it ourselves,’ Smith recalled. But, just to be safe, he booked in with his GP when he got home.
That decision may have saved his life, at least for a while. Smith’s doctor was concerned and referred him for further tests.
The results were devastating: the lump was not a cyst, but stage three melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Even more worrying, doctors believed the cancer had already spread from its original site, which they couldn’t even locate.
A rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak
Smith underwent urgent surgery to remove the tumour from his neck, including three lymph nodes and part of a major neck muscle. The operation was a shock, but it seemed successful.
‘He didn’t know that until he woke up and saw that half his neck was gone. After that initial shock, he just had this determination to fight,’ Lauren said.
‘The operation was successful, and we thought we were done.’
For over three years, he and his wife tried to return to everyday life, even buying a house and getting a dog. They dared to hope they were in the clear.
But cancer is a cruel opponent. In 2023, a routine scan revealed the melanoma had returned and spread to his thigh, lungs, and liver.
Then, in March, the worst news yet: the cancer had reached his brain, causing him to lose the ability to speak temporarily.
Surgeons removed the brain tumour, but the cancer remains. With no more standard treatments available, they are pinning their hopes on an experimental therapy in the United States.
They’ve also started a GoFundMe to help with the costs of experimental treatment.
Smith urged the public: ‘Just get checked, even if it’s something small. It is scary, but it’s worth getting checked. Any changes to your skin? A small lump can be life or death.’
‘You just don’t want cancer to win. There are so many other people in this situation as well, and it’s devastating.’
In Australia, where we have some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, vigilance is vital, especially as we age.
Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australian men and women. According to Cancer Council Australia, around 17,000 Australians are diagnosed with melanoma each year, and the risk increases as we get older.
The Cancer Council recommends using the ‘ABCDE’ rule to check your skin:
- Asymmetry: One half of the spot doesn’t match the other
- Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, or blurred
- Colour: The colour is uneven, with shades of black, brown, and tan
- Diameter: The spot is larger than 6mm across (about the size of a pencil eraser)
- Evolving: The spot is changing in size, shape, or colour
But remember, not all melanomas fit this pattern. Your GP should check any new, changing, or unusual spot, lump, or sore, no matter how small or harmless it seems.
Have you or someone you know had a skin cancer scare? What advice would you give others about checking their skin or seeking help? Share your story in the comments below—your experience could save a life.
Also read: Famous artist’s kids spotted these unusual signs before shocking brain cancer diagnosis
