A teacher from Florida has undergone pioneering reconstructive surgery after a small spot on her nose was diagnosed as a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Cindy Biddle, 42, initially dismissed the blemish as dry skin, but it turned out to be basal cell carcinoma, a cancer that can 'eat away' the face if left untreated.
After being misdiagnosed with an infection, Biddle sought a second opinion when a migraine led her to a different clinic. The doctor immediately referred her to a dermatologist, and within two weeks she was diagnosed with skin cancer linked to UV exposure. Surgeons removed a large tumour, which so shocked her husband that he had to leave the room.
To reconstruct her left nostril, doctors used a flap of skin from her forehead in what is believed to be a world-first procedure. Biddle said she had no choice but to undergo the surgery, as the cancer would have otherwise 'eaten her face off'. She faced hurtful stares and comments during her recovery but now says the swelling has reduced and the surgery is barely visible.
Biddle now uses factor 30 sunscreen daily and is raising awareness about skin cancer risks. She believes the cancer may have been growing since she was 12, after years of sun exposure while working as a bartender and spending time on the beach.
