Fermanagh cancer survivor warns about signs of melanoma

Along with raising money for the cancer survivorship group, Denise Kavanagh is hoping to raise awareness of skin cancer, encouraging others to protect themselves during hot weather and get checked by a doctor if they notice changes in their spots or moles.

This comes following her own diagnosis of melanoma during lockdown.

“I had a spot on my arm and I started watching it. I was thinking, ‘Right – this isn’t good at all’, so I got in contact with the doctors,” Denise told The Impartial Reporter, explaining that she had always had a mole on her arm, but it had started to change in appearance, becoming like a blister.

“[The doctors] put me in contact with Dr. Patricia Podmore, a skin specialist. So I ended up going to Dr. Podmore and she said, ‘Yes, it doesn’t look good, so we’re going to send you down for a biopsy’,” she said.

After the biopsy, Denise was told that she would receive her results in a month or so.

“In two weeks they rang me,” she said. When she received the call from the doctor, she was told that she had an aggressive melanoma.

“She said, ‘Denise, you’re not going back to work. You’ve got an aggressive melanoma on your arm, and we need to work fast’,” Denise added, noting that she was booked in for an appointment in Altnagelvin for later that day.

An operation to remove the melanoma was then scheduled for the following week, but was subsequently cancelled. After being rescheduled, Denise received the operation on December 15, 2021.

“The melanoma was 29 centimetres long because it was just wrapped around my arm,” said Denise, noting that the surgeons were able to remove it all.

Along with the surgery to remove the melanoma, Denise also had to have a lymph node under her arm removed.

Although the melanoma has now been removed, Denise still experiences pain in her arm.

“It was wrapped around nerve endings, so they’re all severed and my arm is just [very] sore,” she told this newspaper.

Marathon run

Denise Kavanagh crossing the finish line.

As a keen runner and member of Enniskillen Running Club, following her diagnosis and treatment, Denise wanted to complete a marathon run in aid of SWELL – a Fermanagh-based support charity that provides support services and activities for local people who have been affected by cancer.

Denise celebrating after her eight hour marathon run with a few of her many Enniskillen Running Club support team members.

On Sunday, July 3, with the support of her friends, family and members of Enniskillen Running Club, Denise ran 105.5 laps of St. Michael’s Athletic Track in Enniskillen, which was equivalent to a marathon, 26.2 miles.

Denise with husband Stephen Kavanagh.

Grateful for the support on the day, Denise said: “It was just amazing.”

Denise celebrating after her eight hour marathon run with a few of her many Enniskillen Running Club support team members.

In total, through the marathon running event, she raised at total of £5,320 for SWELL via donations online and in-person.

“We are blown away by the generosity of the community and the support Denise received for her amazing project to reach this phenomenal target,” said Genevieve Irvine, a founding member of SWELL.

“All money raised has been donated to SWELL, and will stay within Fermanagh helping local families to cope with cancer and extended impact it has on those affected.

Denise Kavanagh presented Genevieve Irvine of SWELL with a cheque for £5,320 following her marathon run.

“Thank you Denise for battling through a negative experience, and to use it to create such an inspirational positive for the whole community,” she added.