After over 20 years in the pop industry, Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton needed a new challenge and decided to train as a skin care specialist.
One of the skills she picked up during her training was how to spot the danger signs of skin cancer.
So when she was giving her mum Maria a facial and noticed an unusual patch of skin on her forehead, it set alarm bells ringing in Natasha’s mind.
"I saw this mark, about half the size of a penny," recalls Natasha. "It wasn't a mole, just a slightly raised, dry, scaly patch of skin that looked a little bit sore. I said, 'Mum, that wasn't there last time I saw you how long have you had it?'
"She said it just came and went, and wasn't causing her any pain or getting in the way of anything.
"I told her I thought she should get it seen to, but each time I saw her, she said it was fine. I finally convinced her to go and see someone, but she was told it was just an area of dry skin."
Luckily, Natasha wasn't prepared to just leave things there.
"I noticed over time that the mark seemed to appear and then disappear, and it could look quite sore. Thanks to my training, I knew that wasn't right and I had a feeling I knew what it was. I advised her to get a second opinion."
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/GiS328jP01658736031842/1801370136.jpg]
A referral to a dermatologist revealed it was a basal cell carcinoma, a form of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Maria was prescribed cream by her doctor to treat precancerous cells all over her face. She then had the original suspicious area on her forehead cut out. Tests have now confirmed that the carcinoma has been com...
One of the skills she picked up during her training was how to spot the danger signs of skin cancer.
So when she was giving her mum Maria a facial and noticed an unusual patch of skin on her forehead, it set alarm bells ringing in Natasha’s mind.
"I saw this mark, about half the size of a penny," recalls Natasha. "It wasn't a mole, just a slightly raised, dry, scaly patch of skin that looked a little bit sore. I said, 'Mum, that wasn't there last time I saw you how long have you had it?'
"She said it just came and went, and wasn't causing her any pain or getting in the way of anything.
"I told her I thought she should get it seen to, but each time I saw her, she said it was fine. I finally convinced her to go and see someone, but she was told it was just an area of dry skin."
Luckily, Natasha wasn't prepared to just leave things there.
"I noticed over time that the mark seemed to appear and then disappear, and it could look quite sore. Thanks to my training, I knew that wasn't right and I had a feeling I knew what it was. I advised her to get a second opinion."
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/GiS328jP01658736031842/1801370136.jpg]
A referral to a dermatologist revealed it was a basal cell carcinoma, a form of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Maria was prescribed cream by her doctor to treat precancerous cells all over her face. She then had the original suspicious area on her forehead cut out. Tests have now confirmed that the carcinoma has been com...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 01, 2022