Two years ago, when then-20-year-old Lauren McFerran went to get her ear pierced, she discovered a strange mole on the tip of her right ear. A visit to the doctor revealed that the dark mark was a deadly form of skin cancer called melanoma.
McFerran was stunned. “I’m not a sun worshipper,” she explained. She has never visited a tanning salon and also doesn’t enjoy tanning outside. “If I can get skin cancer anyone can.”
She had the initial mole removed, as well as her lymph nodes, which her doctors discovered had also been afflicted by the disease.
But just a few months later, when McFerran was on vacation with her family, she discovered more strange marks appearing on her face. Another visit to the doctor revealed that the cancer had spread further than initially realized.
Her entire right ear would have to be removed in order to properly rid her of melanoma.
Thankfully, McFerran’s ear removal was successful, although she did have to use skin grafts from her arm and groin to repair her ear and cheek afterward.
McFerran has refused to let this disease slow her in any way.
When she first discovered that she had melanoma, she was completing a course in school to become a certified primary school teacher. The faculty at her university were extremely understanding and offered McFerran plenty of time off, particularly when she when was undergoing radiotherapy.
She chose to only take two weeks off from her schooling and now, at 22, has already become a primary school teacher and found a teaching position.
The children, of course, have noticed her missing ear although McFerran does occasionally wear a fitted prosthetic ear. McFerran said, “A few of the children asked questions about it but I learned to live with it.”
