By Michele Canning Smith

A SMALL scar below the right eye is the only indication that the woman in front of me faced her own mortality.

Deirdre Campbell, from Sion Mills, was diagnosed with skin cancer during Christmas 2005, and has undergone surgery to have the disease removed from her face.

It isn't obvious to look at the local woman, who has spent much of her life working for cancer charities, that she was diagnosed nor even treated for a deadly disease, apart from that tiny scar.

A small cut on her face, which bled every time she applied make-up, prompted her to seek help, first at a pharmacy and then from her GP.

After referral to a consultant and surgeon she was given the news that she had skin cancer.

"It was just a small cut but it never seemed to go away and every time I put make-up on it bled. I suppose I knew that something was wrong because it never went away.

cancer

"I went to the pharmacist thinking that I might just need some cream, but he advised me to see my doctor.

"I was referred to a consultant and I suppose I knew at that stage. Maybe I didn't really want to face up to it but at Christmas 2005 the surgeon told me he thought it was skin cancer.

"In February 2006 I had a biopsy and the following week it was confirmed that it was cancer. Whilst I had an idea of what was about to be told to me, nothing can prepare you for being told you have cancer, no matter how much you prepare yourself.

"I walked around in a daze for a few days and the thing that troubled me the most was how I was going to tell my family, my husband, three daughters and my son.

"I was like a swan, calm on the outside, with my feet paddling wildly underneath the water. I didn't tell them for a few weeks and that was a very stressful experience but I eventually did.

"They were fantastic and the attitude was just that I had spent my life looking after them and now it was their turn to support me.

"Everyone was just fantastic, my family and my friends.

"I underwent surgery in May of 2006 and it's not an experience I would wish on anyone.

"I now have continual appointments but Dr Dace, my consultant, is happy with my progress, and has been invaluable in his care and support.

"I had an absolutely brilliant surgeon in Dr Kamal at Altnagelvin and the hospital has been fantastic in its aftercare.

"I am a great outdoors person but I'm not a sun worshipper, I've never been to a hot country, never been on a sunbed so to be told I had skin cancer was unbelievable.

Deirdre is hopeful that her story will act as a warning to others.

One of the most ironic aspects for Deirdre is her lifelong work with cancer charities.

"I thought I knew all about cancer and the dangers as I have worked with cancer charities all my life.

" I have fundraised for Marie Curie and the Foyle Hospice after a number of extended family members died from cancer.

"But when it's you sitting in front of that consultant and he's telling you that you have cancer, well it's a very personal experience. I suppose I thought it would never happen to me."

Deirdre has also been a supporter of other people all of her life and one of the most difficult aspects was admitting she needed support.

"Here was I the supporter, I realised that I needed all the support I could get and then some."

But for Deirdre this has also had a positive outcome.

"A lot of good has come out of this. Every experience you go through means that you can help someone else.

"As I work in the community I have the opportunity to speak to a lot of people," she adds.