Linda McGowan tells Anne Dempsey she believes she was in the right place at the right time and that stroke of luck possibly saved her life
Linda McGowan was born with classic Celtic colouring of strawberry blonde hair and green eyes, her skin becoming freckled in summer before taking a light golden tan.
So when concern was expressed in St Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire regarding a large freckle on her foot, she was initially blase.
"I was collecting my daughter after day surgery, it was this time of year and I was bare legged in summer shoes. When the nursing sister said she didn't like the look of the freckle, I said 'nonsense, I'm covered in those'. But she insisted, said the specialist was there so I went along.
"I thought it was all nothing. The freckles were flat, hairless, not ugly, didn't bleed. But when he was examining me, I showed a tiny mark around my calf which would become irritated after using hair removal cream on my legs. He said it should be removed, and a week later did so under local anaesthetic."
When Linda from Blackrock, Dublin went to have her stitches out, her consultant wanted to see her.
"He was quite upset, pacing up and down, he told me it was bad news. When the spot was biopsied it was found to be malignant. I needed further surgery. He began to talk about skin grafts, skin flaps and avoiding chemotherapy. I made an appointment for further surgery under a general anaesthetic.
"It didn't really hit me until I was back in the car. Cancer. I was very taken aback but I'm also pragmatic and felt that such a tiny thing couldn't be a killer. I've since learnt that is not correct and something the size of a pinprick can kill if not caught in time as its depth is equally relevant."
This time the surgeon made a semi-circular incision, peeling back the outer skin layer, removed the cancerous cells and stitched the skin flap back. The neat job involved 33 stitches and left no scar.
McGowan was referred to an oncologist at the Mater Hospital who alerted her to other risk factors including swollen glands, moles or skin blemishes which altered in nature in any way.
Over the next 18 months, she had four further skin spots removed, one potentially suspect. She realised that her four children - then aged 17, 15, 13 and 10 - with varying skin tones, also presented with freckles and moles and so they too could be at potential risk.
"They began to see a medical skin specialist each year, as I do, now it's something they've grown up with. It's all about education. My daughter subsequently noticed a tiny dot near her ankle and because she was so clued in, had it checked immediately, found it was a malignant melanoma. It was removed and she is fine.
"Since this has happened to me, I have become much more aware. Skin cancer is a growing problem here, and without becoming fanatical, it is important to understand that something that looks harmless may not necessarily be so, especially if it begins to change in looks or character. That's why I've agreed to speak publicly.
"Nobody thinks they will get cancer until it happens. When I think of my own situation I realise I've been very, very lucky in happening to be in the right place at the right time. I never found out the name of that nursing sister, but am very grateful to her, as it's just possible she saved my life."