64-Year-Old UK Woman Diagnosed with Skin Cancer After Mistaking Sore for Cold Sore

Accident – Death – Obituary News : **Woman Misdiagnosed Cold Sore on Lip Turns Out to Have Skin Cancer**

*Last Updated: November 22, 2023, 12:34 IST*

A 64-year-old woman from the UK, identified as Pauline, initially believed that a dry spot on her bottom lip was simply a cold sore. However, after enduring months of painful treatment, it was discovered that the blistered growth on her lip was actually skin cancer. Pauline was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is the second most common skin cancer in the UK, according to consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson Dr. Penelope Pratsou.

The saga began in August 2020 when Pauline noticed the dry spot on her lip while taking a photograph of herself to send to her son after getting her teeth whitened. Initially assuming it was a cold sore, Pauline later realized, upon reviewing the photos, that it was the beginning of a more serious condition. She explained that while it was visible on the outside, the cancer had already started growing internally, unbeknownst to her.

At the time, Pauline and her husband were living in Alicante, Spain. In September 2020, she became concerned when the sore failed to heal and decided to consult her local doctor. Prescribed creams failed to produce any results, leading Pauline to seek further treatment from a dermatologist. The dermatologist attempted to burn off the sore, but after multiple visits, Pauline noticed her lip turning black and waking up each morning with blood-stained bed linen.

In November 2020, a biopsy was taken of the sore, and three weeks later, Pauline received the devastating news that she had cancer. She admitted, “It was the first time in seven years all three of our sons were in Spain with us, and I didn’t want to go home and tell them.”

The biopsy revealed that the cancer had spread from her lip to her chin, necessitating immediate surgical removal. Pauline was referred to surgeon Dr. Carlos Laredo, who proposed using her tongue to reconstruct her lip since the tumor was deeper than initially thought.

In an unexpected twist, the biopsy also uncovered a foreign substance at the base of the tumor, which doctors attributed to lip filler. Pauline had received lip filler injections four times while living in England, but only on her top lip for definition. When she moved to Spain, she opted for a “no-needle” lip-plumping method, recommended by a friend, as it was purportedly less painful than traditional injections. However, Pauline found the procedure painful and recalled, “The nurse doing the procedure said, ‘We’re going to have to stop.'” She was informed that there was a high likelihood that the cancer was caused by the lip filler, as the substance from the filler was detected at the bottom of the tumor.

Following the removal of the growth, Dr. Laredo performed a complex surgery that involved slicing Pauline’s tongue lengthwise and sewing it to her lips. During the recovery period, Pauline could only consume fluids through a straw and experienced excruciating pain at night from accidentally biting her tongue. The complete healing process lasted between 12 and 14 months. Dr. Laredo utilized various techniques to restore volume to her lower lip, using her breast tissue instead of artificial fillers, which would get absorbed by her body.

Pauline admitted that her self-confidence wasn’t significantly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, as masks allowed her to hide her lip. However, upon returning to England in November 2022, where masks were no longer mandatory, she experienced anxiety and self-consciousness when meeting up with old friends. She eventually regained her confidence with the assistance of Medical Tattooist Karen Betts, a renowned medical tattooer and permanent makeup artist.

The case of Pauline serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of early detection and accurate diagnosis in the successful treatment of skin cancer. It also raises concerns about the potential risks associated with lip fillers and the need for further research in this area.

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