'Get checked now': Young student is diagnosed with aggressive skin cancer after eagle-eyed doctors spotted a TINY yet sinister detail on a small, 'normal' freckle on her left arm

Danielle Rancie was diagnosed with aggressive stage two skin cancer in 2019
After deciding to visit the GP for a mole on her back doctors noticed a tiny detail
Tests detected a pinprick-sized freckle was hiding the stage two skin cancer
Feeling overwhelmed and confused, she didn't know what to do
She now has a large scar in her left arm and is an advocate for skin checks

By Carina Stathis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:33 BST, 4 July 2021 | Updated: 03:33 BST, 4 July 2021

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A young sun-loving student was shocked to be diagnosed with aggressive and fast-spreading skin cancer at 27 - despite there being no obvious warning signs in the small 'normal-looking' freckle on her left arm.

Psychologist Danielle Rancie, from the Gold Coast, was diagnosed on May 7, 2019 with stage two melanoma after doctors noticed a sinister black dot in a freckle the size of a pinprick.

The now 29-year-old initially visited the local GP to check a mole on her back and didn't consider the freckle on her arm to be of concern.

After undergoing a full body scan and biopsy on both moles, doctors told Danielle the freckle could've gone unnoticed as the cancer was growing inwards towards the bloodstream rather than outwards, leaving a black dot within the freckle.

Prior to the diagnosis, Danielle was undergoing a 'transitional time in her life' as she had moved from the Gold Coast to Townsville earlier that year to conduct research for her honours thesis.

A young sun-loving psychologist from the Gold Coast was shocked to be diagnosed with aggressive and fast-spreading skin cancer at 27 - despite there being no obvious warning signs in the small 'normal-looking' freckle on her left arm

After undergoing a full body scan and biopsy on both moles, doctors told Danielle the freckle could've gone unnoticed as the cancer was growing inwards towards the bloodstream (pictured before her diagnosis)

Prior to the diagnosis Danielle was undergoing a 'transitional time in her life' as she had moved from the Gold Coast to Townsville earlier that year to conduct research for her honours thesis

Growing up in Melbourne and then moving to the Gold Coast, Danielle admitted she wasn't sun smart and actively participated in sports such as water skiing.

I was a struggling full-time student who didn't want to pay for skin specialists.

As a young adult she was admittedly 'lazy' when it came to skin checks and put off going to the doctors for years as she assumed she was fine.

'I thought there's no way it would happen to me and at the time I was a struggling full-time student who didn't want to pay for skin specialists,' she said.

Danielle struggled to handle the news of the melanoma and started to feel lonely and isolated being away from family, which impacted her mental health.

'I thought there's no way it would happen to me and at the time I was a struggling full-time student who didn't want to pay for skin specialists,' she said

The mole on her back was the size of a five-cent piece, whereas the cancerous freckle was the size of a pinprick

The following week Danielle had surgery to remove a 'marginal area' in and around the freckle on her arm as well as on her back. But she later experienced a staph infection

The following week Danielle had surgery to remove a 'marginal area' in and around the freckle on her arm as well as on her back.

But a few days later, she experienced an irritating pain and redness where the cancer had been removed.

'I went back to the doctor and said something wasn't feeling right, which was detected as a staph infection,' she said.

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, types of germs commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals.

Despite being put on antibiotics, the infection become progressively worse until one night the stitches in her arm 'completely burst and popped open'.

What are the signs of a skin cancer?

There are three main types of skin cancer: melanoma (including nodular melanoma), basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma: Most deadly form of skin cancer and if left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Appears as a new spot or an existing spot that changes in colour, size or shape.

Basal cell carcinoma: Most common, least dangerous form of skin cancer. Red, pale or pearly in colour, appears as a lump or dry, scaly area. Grows slowly, usually on areas that are often exposed to the sun.

Squamous cell carcinoma: A thickened, red scaly spot that may bleed easily, crust or ulcerate. Grows over some months, usually on areas often exposed to the sun. More likely to occur in people over 50 years of age.

What started out as the tiniest freckle had turned into a golf ball-sized hole in Danielle's arm which wasn't healing

What started out as the tiniest freckle had turned into a golf ball-sized hole in Danielle's arm which wasn't healing.

'I immediately went to the emergency room and the nurses admitted me as a patient because the infection was so bad,' she said.

As weeks went by the combination of the cancerous tumour and the staph infection took a toll on Danielle's health and she dropped down from 58kg to 49kg.

'I lost weight, my kidneys were starting to fail, I was stressed all the time, it was a really hectic time,' she said.

As weeks past the combination of the cancerous tumour and the staph infection took a toll on Danielle's health and she dropped down to 49kg from 58kg

After being released from hospital when the university break started, Danielle returned home to the Gold Coast to be with her family.

Every day for months she went to the local skin clinic to have the wound cleaned and rebandaged.

'I had to wear a tube suction device attached to my arm which kept the wound safe and clean while also trying to let it heal because the doctors didn't stitch it back up,' she said.

'Huge lumps then started appearing around my body, specifically under my armpits, because my lymph nodes had become enflamed.

'Thankfully this was only because of the staph infection and surgery.'

'Huge lumps then started appearing around my body, specifically under my armpits, because my lymph nodes had become enflamed,' she said

Despite the ongoing issues, Danielle did not need to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments as the cancer was only in stage two.

'There were many conversations for months prepping me for this recommended next step, but I persisted and urged doctors to do everything they could,' she said.

'I often think whether I would be here today if the cancer had turned to stage three – it definitely could have been a different outcome.'

Danielle is now not only an advocate for skin checks but full body checks for early detection and prevention.

'My advice to anyone is to not delay, cover up your skin and tanning isn't everything,' she said.

Top tips for applying sunscreen

* Put it on clean, dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before you go out in the sun to allow it time to interact with your skin. Re-apply it just before you go out – you'll increase the amount applied and be more likely to get the stated SPF benefit.

* Cover all parts of the body not protected by clothing (don't forget your ears, the back of your neck, the backs of your hands and the tops of your feet).

* Apply it evenly, and don't rub it in excessively – most sunscreens will absorb into the outer layer of skin and don't need to be rubbed in vigorously.

* Re-apply at least once every two hours and after swimming or exercise.

* Think beyond the beach and pool – use sunscreen whenever you go outdoors for a significant amount of time, such as to the park, a lunchtime walk to the shops, playing sports or gardening.

* Store your sunscreen at a temperature of less than 30 degrees Celsius. If you leave it in the glovebox of your car or in the sun, it may lose its effectiveness. Keep it in the esky with the drinks, in the shade or wrapped in a towel.

* Don't use sunscreens that have passed their expiry date as they may have lost their effectiveness.

Source: Choice