Man, 50, who tried to hide ‘annoying ingrown hair’ with his beard discovers it’s actually cancer years later
After discovering that a “ingrown hair” he attempted to hide with his beard was actually cancer, a man has cautioned other “stubborn” guys not to disregard symptoms.
Three years ago, Simon Heaton, a football manager who “takes pride in his appearance,” became aware of a pinprick-sized lesion on his left cheekbone.
After a few weeks, it vanished, but then reappeared, so Simon grew facial hair to hide it.
The 50-year-old, who claims that former professional boxer Ricky Hatton is his best friend, didn’t give it much thought until it began to enlarge because he thought it was an ingrown hair or pimple.
Simon, the manager of the non-league Abbey Hey Football Club, was encouraged by his mother to visit his doctor and have it examined after it grew to a diameter of 4 mm.
Simon, a previous sunbed lover, was shocked to be referred to a dermatologist during a July 2023 GP visit since the doctor thought the lesion was malignant.
Read more on skin cancer
The father of two had the growth, which was thought to be basal cell carcinoma, surgically removed last week, leaving a scar that is three inches long.
In order to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether he need any additional treatment, Simon must now endure an anxious six-week wait.
“Stubborn blokes” are being urged by the company development manager to have anything out of the ordinary looked out right immediately.
Simon, who lives in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, stated: “Three years ago, I became aware of a tiny pimple the size of a pinprick on my face.
“I assumed it was a spot, so I left it, and it vanished until returning a few weeks later, somewhat larger.
“I knew it was there and it was bothering me, even though it wasn’t hurting.
Watch as woman, 28, plagued by giant skin growth undergoes life-changing op on The Bad Skin Clinic
“I like to think of myself as a well-dressed man, and I take pride in my appearance.
“I had a little difficulty with it since I believed it was an ingrown hair. I didn’t give it much thought, so I chose to grow a beard to hide it.
“This tiny pimple grew larger, developed a small scab, wept, and eventually fell off. It entered a cycle of eight weeks.
“I just lived with it, with the beard no-one could see it.”
Simon’s mother, Margaret Heaton, only encouraged him to get the place examined after it had grown and he had brought it up to her several times.
“I loved a sunbed in my previous life,” Simon remarked. During my twenties, I would spend six minutes on sunbeds three times a week without applying sunscreen.
“Getting a tan made me feel better. I’m not conceited; you simply feel and look better.
“I used to spend my summer vacations lounging in the sun from the moment it rose until it set. On the final few days, I would apply factor 12 and then down to oil.
“I had brought it up to my mother several times. ‘Go and get that looked out’ was one of her words.
“I was a little taken aback when he suggested it might be cancer since I didn’t expect it would be.
Within five minutes of my visit to the general practitioner, he informed me that it appeared to be basal cell carcinoma and directed me to a dermatologist, who confirmed his findings.
“They chose to remove it instead of doing a biopsy.
“I love the sun and I love my holidays and that’s what they put it down to – sun exposure.”
Can you spot the cancerous moles from the harmless ones?
Don’t be hasty to ignore a new mole or persistent mark you’ve noticed on your skin.
Understanding the typical appearance of your skin will help you spot any odd changes.
A mole’s health can be evaluated using the ABCDE rule.
It is worthwhile to have your mole examined if it fits into any of the following categories:
- Asymmetrical melanomas usually have two very different halves and are an irregular shape
- Border melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border
- Colours melanomas will usually be a mix of two or more colours
- Diameter most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter
- Enlargement or elevation a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma
The majority of melanomas don’t cause pain or itching.
On the other hand, some aberrant skin patches or non-cancerous moles may itch.
Therefore, even though any of these changes alone do not always indicate that you have melanoma, you should nonetheless have it examined.
Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are the two primary forms of skin cancer.
Skin cancer that is not melanoma includes:
- Basal cell skin cancer – this is also called basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell skin cancer – this is also called squamous cell carcinoma
Additionally, there are several varieties of melanoma:
- Superficial spreading melanoma
- Nodular melanoma
- Lentigo maligna melanoma
Learn more about how to tell moleshere apart.
On October 22, Simon had an hour-long operation at Tameside Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, to remove the tumor.
He now has a three-inch scar on his face, which, according to surgeons, will not show through his beard until it heals.
“I have a fairly deep scar on my face, but hopefully it will go away,” Simon remarked.
“They will do a biopsy on it and provide the results at my subsequent appointment in six weeks.
“The surgeons performed flawlessly. One claimed he was going to slightly alter the incision’s angle due of my beard line so the scar wouldn’t show when it healed.
“My partner Adele’s been a massive support throughout it all.”
Simon is now advising anyone experiencing any strange symptoms to seek medical attention right once.
“I now wear a factor 50 moisturizing cream every day,” Simon stated.
“I would strongly advise guys who believe it’s just a spot or ingrowing hair to see a doctor and have it examined.
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“The mentality is ‘it’ll be alright, it’ll be gone in a week,’ and I believe it’s a masculine stubbornness.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry, they can catch things early and stop them from happening again.”
What is basal cell carcinoma?
One kind of non-melanoma skin cancer that begins in the epidermis is called basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
Often, it is easily addressed.
UV rays from the sun, which is utilized in sunbeds, is the primary culprit.
Age, light skin, and a history of skin cancer are factors that raise your risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer.
A growth or odd spot on the skin is the primary sign of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Although it can affect any portion of your skin, sun-exposed areas like the following are the most common:
- Head, face and ears
- Neck and shoulders
- Back
- Hands
- Lower legs
The patches or growths may differ in texture, size, and color.
Being cautious in the sun, such as by using sunscreen and reapplying it frequently, can lower your risk of developing skin cancer.
Source: NHS
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