A mother-of-three is urging others to be diligent with skin checks after a small brown spot on her cheek turned out to be cancerous.
Catherine Smartt’s life was turned upside down after she was diagnosed with stage 1 skin cancer on January 29.
The 40-year-old Geelong woman told FEMAIL she first noticed “two small dots” in October 2022 that looked like a “pigmentation spot”. When she became pregnant in January 2023, doctors initially thought the spot was due to “hormonal changes.”
But over time it changed and grew in size, but it didn’t look like a “cliché” melanoma: it wasn’t dark, there was no lump, and the texture felt “rough.”
During her pregnancy last year she watched The Kardashians regularly and Khloé happened to talk about her own melanoma, prompting Catherine to be more alert.
Mother Catherine Smartt, 40, (pictured in 2022) thought the freckle-like spot on her cheek was an “age spot” or because she was pregnant with her third child.
But on January 29, he was diagnosed with stage one skin cancer (pictured in January 2023 before diagnosis).
Almost every day for two years she recorded herself putting on lipstick in the car and unknowingly documented her skin changes.
“He had other spots on his face that looked the same, so there was no indication it was cancer,” he said.
After giving birth in October, she was aware that it is “very common” for the skin to change significantly.
“I thought, ‘It’s because I’m pregnant, don’t worry,'” she explained.
And while I was spending time at home, I was watching The Kardashians and, ironically, Khloe Kardashian was talking about her “skin cancer journey.”
At the time, the TV personality was diagnosed with skin cancer and showed pictures of what the cancerous spot looked like, and Catherine was shocked to see that it looked “just like hers.”
“He had other spots on his face that looked the same, so there was no indication it was cancer,” he said.
Catherine became pregnant with her third child in January 2023 and gave birth in October, and was aware that it is “very common” for the skin to change significantly. ‘The changes she was noticing (about the spot) I told myself, ‘It’s because I’m pregnant, don’t worry,’ she explained.
While spending time at home, I watched The Kardashians and, ironically, Khloe Kardashian talked about her “skin cancer journey.” Catherine said Khloé’s cancerous spot looked “just like hers” (pictured: Catherine points to spot)
“I was lucky to track my face daily and was also informed that not all skin cancers look like moles,” she said.
“After having the baby I hoped it would calm down, but it didn’t.”
Two months later she visited her GP for a pregnancy-related matter and asked him about the point. The doctor was immediately concerned about his appearance and performed the biopsy.
‘Thank God I made it a priority to have it reviewed. “She was tired of having to hide it, but what if she had accepted it or said ‘this is 40, this is normal,'” Catherine said.
‘As mothers, you can’t show your children that you are afraid or that something is wrong. You have to be strong for them.’
Catherine’s mother had stage four melanoma when she was in elementary school and fortunately is still alive today.
But Catherine remembers being “scared” and doesn’t want her children to feel the same level of fear or worry.
Two months later she visited her GP for a pregnancy-related matter and asked him about the point. The doctor was immediately concerned about his appearance and performed the biopsy which confirmed that he was cancerous.
“It was good news because it was found early,” he said. But the next day his oldest son started school, so he had to “compartmentalize” her and push her aside.
‘I had to put aside everything I had to worry about and focus on being a father. “It was a huge week,” he said.
When she got home she felt “stuck” and told her husband and family. In the next few hours she met with a surgeon.
Catherine underwent surgery to remove the spot and surrounding tissue, but had to return after a week because the surgeon was “not satisfied” he had removed enough tissue.
“It was a big shock to realize the incision they had to make. At that moment I thought “but it’s too small and they need to take out a lot,” she said. And that was more shocking than the diagnosis.
The pain after surgery was “unbearable” and he compared it to “an ax to the face.” He now has a diagonal scar that extends from the inner corner of his eye to his mouth.
‘I especially liked how my lips looked and now they are not symmetrical: I no longer recognize myself in the mirror. I also ran the risk of my eye falling out if they pulled too hard,” she said.
“When I touch it, it doesn’t feel like my own face.”
Surgery was required to remove the cancer and surrounding tissue, which worried Catherine. While everything went well, she said that she now “doesn’t recognize herself” because of the huge facial scar she is healing from.
Now Catherine is on a mission to educate others about what skin cancer can look like and how it doesn’t always appear as an “ugly black lump.”
One of her “lowest moments” throughout the entire ordeal occurred after the surgery, when Catherine reflected on what the outcome could have been if she hadn’t asked doctors to check the ominous stain.
‘It’s crazy to think what would have happened if I hadn’t done this. “The thought of my children being left without a mother hurts me a lot,” she said.
“I think I would have reacted very differently to this if I was 20 than I am now 40. You have to put on a brave face when you are raising little people and you have to be there for them.
“The Australian sun is so deadly and our skin hasn’t evolved to withstand it.”
He now undergoes skin exams and full-body blood tests every few months and will continue to do so for the rest of his life.
After the dilemma, Catherine feels less sure of herself and wants to “hide from the world” while she stays away from surgery.
In public he looks down a lot, wears big sunglasses and hats to cover the bandage on his face.
“I stay at home a lot because I don’t want to go out. But I’m looking forward to the day when I can wear makeup again. “I miss being able to be me, do my lipstick videos, and try new beauty products,” she said.
Now Catherine is on a mission to educate others about what skin cancer can look like and how it doesn’t always appear as an “ugly black lump.”
‘Prioritize your health, as much as you would your children. “It’s very easy for mothers to get caught up in the day to day, when you are just as important,” she said.
“Your children will miss you if you don’t take care of yourself; the consequences are enormous.” So get your skin checked and take care of it.
‘This is not something to be taken lightly. It is very much a life or death situation. What’s wrong with having something checked? It’s better to know before than after.
Cancer Council He recommends applying sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and again every two hours.