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Image source, Katrina Fox Image caption, Katrina Fox had even joked with friends about her growth at first, nicknaming it Bert By Peter Whittlesea Reporting from in Rochester and Nathan Bevan South East A woman from Medway is raising awareness after a golf ball-sized lump on her forehead turned out to be an incurable blood cancer which had eaten a hole in her skull. Katrina Fox had joked with her friends about her growth at first, even nicknaming it Bert, while her GP initially diagnosed it as a harmless cyst. But when the 38-year-old from Rochester tried to have it removed she was told by medics that they had found a tumour, along with 3cm gap in her cranium through which they could see her brain.
"I was devastated but now want to spread the word so that others can get an early diagnosis," she said. The problem started in September 2021 when a bump about the size of a pea appeared on Katrina's forehead and began growing dramatically. Her doctor referred her to a dermatologist in February 2022, which is when the tumour was uncovered, along with the damage it had caused.
Image source, Katrina Fox Image caption, A scan shows the damage done to Katrina's skull After numerous tests, including a bone marrow biopsy, Katrina was eventually told she had an incurable form of blood cancer called myeloma. "I couldn't believe a lump I had joked about could be something so deadly," she said. Myeloma affects over 35,000 people in the UK.
While it is incurable, it is treatable in the majority of cases. BBC broadcaster Lauren Laverne revealed her diagnosis in July. However, it can be hard to spot, with early signs like back pain, tiredness and recurring infections often being attributed to aging, arthritis or minor illness.
"In hindsight, I'd been fatigued and had experienced terrible rib pain, but they were put down to tiredness from work and a sprain," said Katrina, who urged those with similar symptoms to "get help early and push your medical team as it could save your life". Having had chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant - as well as titanium mesh inserts to patch the hole in her skull - she now takes daily medication to try to keep the cancer at bay. "It's been really hard adjusting to life with cancer, but I know that I have to make the most of things while I can," she said.
Image source, Katrina Fox Image caption, Katrina receiving stem cell treatment in hospital Gemma Trout is a senior nurse at the charity Blood Cancer UK, which funds research into blood cancers. "It must have been a huge shock for Katrina to discover that a lump she had initially thought harmless was cancer," she said. "Blood cancer is the UK's fifth most common cancer and the UK's third biggest cancer killer, but awareness is low.
"That's why it's important to speak to your GP about any unexplained changes to your body, particularly if they persist, grow or change," Trout said. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook , external , on X , external , and on Instagram , external and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds . Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Source: BBC
