A woman who thought she had a sunspot on her face discovered it was skin cancer and underwent an op to remove her entire cheek - leaving her with 150 stitches and staples.

Janet Thomas, 63, first noticed a brown mark on her cheek in March 2020 and assumed it was a sunspot - a dark or discoloured spot on the skin caused by exposure to the sun.

She saw her GP - who took photos of the mark - but was only diagnosed with skin cancer after being hospitalised with pneumonia and pleurisy and spending six days in an induced coma in April 2024.

It was then that a nurse noticed the mark on her face had turned grown and black and referred her to dermatology.

Janet then underwent a five-hour surgery on August 8, 2024 - where the cancer was cut out of her face - leaving her with huge scars and 150 stitches and staples.

Janet has been left so self-conscious by her scars she's been unable to leave the house since the procedure - apart from to attend hospital appointments.

She's set up a fundraising page to help cover her medical and living expenses, as well a prosthetic cheek and new dentures.

Janet, who is unable to work for health reasons, from Swansea, Wales, said: "It's been like a horrible nightmare."

"The nurse and surgeon saved my life and did an incredible job - but I don't like looking at myself. "

"I've always looked after my skin - it's been flawless. I had good genes. "

"I noticed a brown mark and didn't think for one second it would be cancer."

"At first I was due to have just the mark removed but when the biopsy came back it was clear I needed to have my whole cheek cut away. "

"The doctor said 'you're going to lose your cheek' - I was dumbfounded. He said 'that's if you survive the anaesthetic' due to my chest issues."

"I've suffered with pneumonia and pleurisy since I was teen - so it gives me breathing issues. "

"I looked at my reflection after the operation and, without sounding vain, I've never had problem with my appearance - but now my nose is slanting and sloping. "

"The only time I leave the house is to go to hospital, I've become really isolated. "

"I've felt suicidal - I've been so poorly and my dad died and my mum has dementia. "

"All I want is to face the outside world and to be there to look after my mother."

Janet first noticed a brown mark on her right cheek just before the covid lockdown in 2020.

Janet - who also suffers from fibromyalgia, arthritis in her jaw, and lung and breathing difficulties - assumed it was either a side effect from her medication or a sunspot.

She said: "I've always taken really good care of my skin."

"My mum and dad always looked younger because they've got good skin. "

"I noticed a brown mark about the size of a 10 pence, but the mark kept getting bigger and bigger." "

Janet was rushed to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, in April 2024, where she spent six days being treated for pneumonia and pleurisy.

During her hospitalisation, a nurse noticed the mark on her cheek had got "bigger and darker" and arranged for a dermatologist to do an examination. "

A few weeks later, Janet was diagnosed with skin cancer.

"As soon as I waked into the room, I knew straight away," Janet said. "

"I was told that it was cancer. "

"I couldn't say a word, I was speechless."

Janet underwent a five-hour surgery, where the cancer was cut out of her cheek and neck.

Doctors are confident the disease has been fully removed from her face, but Janet is waiting to find out if the cancer has spread to her lungs.

Janet was supposed to have immunotherapy but couldn't have the treatment because it "attacks the lungs" - and could "end up killing me, rather than curing me due to my chest issues". "

Janet - who cares for her mum - has also been left living alone in a flat with limited resources after the attic of her home of 38 years collapsed.

She has set up the GoFundMe after struggling to afford furniture and basic necessities, as well and medical and dental care.

Janet said: "It's just been one thing after another."

"More than anything, I just want teeth. "

"I feel ridiculous but to have teeth would make such a difference. "

"I can't bear to look at myself, it's not me anymore."

"New dentures and a prosthetic cheek would really help with my confidence."

You can donate to Janet's GoFundMe here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-be-able-to-be-there-for-my-beloved-mother