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Privacy Notice Khloe Kardashian has recently opened up about undergoing surgery after revealing that she had a tumour removed from her face. During a trailer for the new series of The Kardashians, the TV personality could be seen sporting a large bandage across one side of her face. Speaking to the camera, she said: “Melanoma is deadly. This is way more serious than I anticipated it to be.” As 38 year old Khloe opens up about her cancer scare Loti Fairhall, 38, applauds the mum-of-two for her transparency. After being diagnosed with malignant melanoma when she was just 27 after getting a mole on her cheek checked out, Loti’s life changed forever. Here, she shares her story…
Khloe Kardashian opens up about her skin cancer scare in the new series of The Kardashians
(Image: Hulu)
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“Growing up, I’d always been conscious of the sun. I burn easily, so I was always sure to protect my skin by lathering on the suncream and wearing hats. However, it wasn’t until the summer of 2012 that I became skin cancer aware. At the time I was working with a fake tanning company on a campaign to raise awareness of skin cancer and I was writing a lot about the signs to look out for. As I learned more, I began to question a mole on my cheek. It was one I’d had for as long as I could remember but I thought it had grown in size and gotten darker. It had also started to bleed, though I’d recently got a new puppy and had put that down to the rough and tumble of being a pet mum. I decided to see a GP for peace of mind and I was told to come back in three months to see if anything had changed. I went for my first check-up in November 2012 and the mole had changed. I was told that I needed to get it removed the next day for testing. Suddenly things were more severe than I’d assumed, but I still didn’t think anything of it.
Loti Fairhall was told she had malignant melanoma in 2012 when she was 27 years old
(Image: Supplied)
After weeks of waiting, I saw a consultant five days before Christmas. I had planned on going to the appointment alone but my mum insisted on coming with me. At the time I was very blasé about the situation and had zero inkling that I was about to receive some life changing news, so wondered why she wanted to come. I was 27 and thought that I was unstoppable. As I sat down, they told me that I had stage one melanoma and that I’d need to have a procedure to completely remove it. I was in disbelief and my mind started to picture worst case scenarios. My mortality was brought to the surface for the first time and I thought I’d never get to walk down the aisle or become a mum. But still, I didn’t cry. I was in such shock that I went into survival mode. My first question to the doctor was ‘what’s next?’. All I could think about was the plan moving forward. Before my diagnosis I’d never been under general anaesthetic, had an operation or even stayed in a hospital. My life had changed in a sentence.
Loti decided to get a mole on her cheek checked out after working on a skin cancer awareness campaign
(Image: Supplied)
Loti says that following her diagnosis she went into “survival mode”
(Image: Supplied)
I’m lucky that my cancer was spotted very early. In January 2013 I had the procedure to have an excision to remove the margin (the skin surrounding the cancer). It was a scary situation to be in as it was so close to my eye, so I was warned that I could potentially be left unable to open and close my eye by myself. Thankfully, the procedure went smoothly and there were no signs of melanoma. A month later I was given the all clear. I was monitored for five years and went to full body check ups every three to six months. Admittedly, having a scar from the operations was hard to deal with. As soon as I came out of the procedure I had two black eyes, so it was very hard to adjust to. I was always worried about what people would think of me and I refused to leave the house without make-up on. I remember my now husband seeing me without make-up for the first time and he asked me how I’d got a scratch on my face – it caught me off guard, but I was honest to him about it and he couldn’t have been kinder about it.
Following the procedures, Loti was left with a scar on her cheek
(Image: Supplied)
Loti says that she has started to embrace her scar
(Image: Supplied)
As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to embrace my scar more. Some days, I feel great and view my scar as being a reminder of how lucky I am and of what I’ve been through. However, there are other days when I’m really self conscious and worry about strangers questioning me for having a scar on my cheek. Since my diagnosis, my life has never been the same. I’m so much stronger for what I’ve been through. It taught me that life isn’t a dress rehearsal and tomorrow’s not a given. After being given the all clear, I realised that I needed to stop waiting for things to happen and that I should start living my life to the fullest. Within a year of my second procedure, I’d completely overhauled my life. I came out of a serious relationship, sold the house we shared together, travelled the world and started my dream job (which I’m still in 10 years later). I recently celebrated 10 years of being cancer free and I’m now a mum to a two year old – it’s been a real journey.
“I’m so much stronger for what I’ve been through,” says Loti
(Image: Supplied)
Seeing Khloe Kardashian open up about her own experience has been such a breakthrough moment for me. Skin cancer can affect anyone, so if one person decides to go get checked out after seeing her speak out, then that’s amazing. I applaud Khloe’s openness, especially as she had a procedure on her face. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have millions of people watching your every move – she’s really brave for talking about it and using her platform to raise awareness.” For more information and support, visit the British Skin Foundation. READ MORE: Click here for today’s top showbiz news ‘I’m glad Vicky Pattison has spoken about fertility struggles – we must break the stigma’ ‘I ‘sensehacked’ by disconnecting and doodling – I’m more energised than ever’ Casey Barker, 27, opens up on terrifying heart attack that left him ‘moments from death’ ‘I had a full hysterectomy at 32 so I could watch my daughters grow up’ Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnKhloe KardashianHealthReal Life
