Nicola Smith, 50, feared she had a twisted hernia after discovering a lump in her groin area – but was left mortified after being told she had squamous cell carcinoma
A mother of five mistook what turned out to be a life-changing lump for a simple twisted hernia.
Struggling to get an appointment with her GP in early May, Greggs worker Nicola Smith, 50, finally got checked when she went to the hospital with a pregnant relative. After an overnight stay and tests initially pointing towards a hernia, Nicola was rocked by the grim reality of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a prevalent type of skin cancer.
Speaking about the moment medics examined her, Nicola recounted to the MEN: “They looked at me and I was like, ‘What’s up?’ I thought it was a twisted hernia and they were just looking at me,” and further insisted on getting the full picture saying, “I said, ‘Listen, I don’t want to be messaged about this.”
“I want the honest truth,’ but I never thought it was cancer. I was mortified.”, reports Lancs Live. Her condition deteriorated as the cancer had invaded six lymph nodes, leading to rigorous chemotherapy sessions beginning July 18, planned for six months at The Christie hospital. Faced with hair loss after the initial treatments, Nicola, who resides in Middleton and is a grandmother of two, decided to shave her head.
Reminiscing over the poignant family moment, she shared, “I had to shave my hair. It was just coming out in clumps. We got all the family round on a Sunday afternoon and did it.” Nicola revealed that her intensive chemotherapy sessions leave her bedridden and drained, confessing to trying to maintain normalcy for her children. “I have to be in bed for days,” she disclosed. “It wipes me out. I’m trying to be normal for the kids.”
She continued, endeavouring to reassure her young ones, “I try to show them that I’m fine, I’m doing okay and that mummy’s okay. It’s been like a whirlwind. It’s just been horrendous.” But Nicola’s health journey began before the lump in her groin appeared. Going back to 2020, the mother found she would bleed after using the toilet and suspected piles.
After undergoing tests at her GP surgery, Nicola asserts she wasn’t contacted with results. Likewise, she says advice was sought for earlier stomach pains this year, followed by a CT scan referral. A follow-up appointment took place three weeks later where, Nicola claims, results were again not relayed to her. She has since pieced together that these varied symptoms were indicators of the squamous cell carcinoma she was diagnosed with subsequently.
SCC, notable as a form of skin cancer originating in keratinocytes of the skin’s outer layer, is inclined to manifest on sun-exposed skin sites. While typically slow to progress and metastasize barring extensive neglect certain cases of SCC can unexpectedly adopt a more invasive trajectory relatively early on.
Squamous cell carcinomas are typically found on the face, neck, balding scalps, arms, hands and legs. Look out for raised growths or lumps, scaly red patches, open sores with maybe a recessed centre, brown spots to crusty eruptions, and nails that might shrink or become deformed. After devoting 34 years of her life to Birch Services, Nicola’s loved ones are eager to whisk her away for a break after her terrifying cancer battle.
Wanting to support Nicola, an appeal has been launched to fund a well-deserved holiday. The fundraising plea urges: “Nicola has worked her whole life, currently been at her workplace 34 years, she has always helps everyone around her – now I’m asking for little help for her. As many of you know the polite beautiful brave woman she is, I would just like to take a little financial stress off her due to her not being in work at the minute.”
They continue: “Her one wish after this nightmare is over is to take all of her children away on holiday, which she would love to do if we get the news and results we truly hope and pray for every single day. If anyone would like to contribute towards this to take a little pressure from her then we would appreciate it so much.”
