Nurse, 38, knew there was a major problem when she looked at her nose
05.03.2024 - 15:07
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A hawk-eyed nurse who was 'addicted' to tanning says she discovered her own cancer when it appeared as a near-invisible spot on her nose. Annie Wilson first noticed what she thought was a blackhead or an enlarged pore.
When it returned a few months later she tried to squeeze it but no pus came out - and instead it bled for five minutes. As she paid closer attention to it, the 38-year-old soon realised it was more serious.
She said: "It bled for five minutes and I had to keep putting lots of pressure on it, which is obviously longer than for usual spots. It's also a big indicator of skin cancer.
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"It was then I noticed a perfect white triangle around the spot you couldn't have got a better triangle. I think it was more that than anything else that made me think 'this isn't right'.
"I knew it was skin cancer but only because of work. I've seen skin cancer in work, other lumps and bumps, but I've never seen my type of skin cancer.
"Everyone tells you to look out for moles. They grow, change shape, go scabby and they bleed so they're the obvious indicators. They're a little bit easier to pick up than a BCC as they come in all different shapes and sizes and they do what they want."
Annie, from Netherley, Liverpool, admits she was a 'tanning addict Scouser' and used sunbeds from when they were 'all the rage' until a few years ago. It was as she was applying face cream while looking in the mirror last June, that she noticed a pin prick-sized mark on the right-hand side of her nose.
Annie said: "As women we're always in the mirror putting creams on our faces and I just noticed it and I thought it was a blackhead, I thought nothing of it. I