Josie Thompson, 37, died last month, from metastatic malignant melanoma four years after having a mole removed from her back which she was told there was no need to “worry” about
A mum-of-two died four years after being told she “had nothing to worry about” when she had a mole removed from her back.
Josie Thompson, 37, died last month and now her family are urging people to wear sunscreen frequently to prevent the risk of metastatic malignant melanoma.
In the summer of 2022, Josie’s husband, Laith, 39, noticed a slight change in a mole on her back – it had become darker and irregular in shape.
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After visiting the doctors, she was referred to a local dermatology department where the mole was removed and Josie was reassured that there was nothing to worry about – but shortly after its removal, the mole began to regrow through the scar tissue.
Despite a second removal with a wider excision, it is claimed she was told the mole was not cancerous and was never referred for CT or PET scans – even though she requested them. By March 2023, the mole had regrown, and a CT scan and a lymph node biopsy eight months later revealed melanoma in her lymph nodes, and stage three cancer.
Josie received the devastating news over the phone while at the aquarium with her two daughters, Rebecca, 10 and Sophie, 6. Tragically, despite “fighting everyday for her girls,” she passed away at the age of 37, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Her grieving family are now hoping to share Josie’s inspiring story to encourage people to be aware of their skin, get checked if any changes are noticed, and hopefully save lives.
They are campaigning for heightened awareness regarding skin protection – including avoiding sunbeds, getting any unusual marks examined promptly, and wearing SPF50 – even during winter.
Jade Thompson, 40, described her sister as an “incredible fighter” who was always cautious and careful with her fair skin. Jade, from Plymouth, Devon, said: “They told her the mole was nothing to worry about.
“It was the biggest shock ever to learn, after eight long months, that she had stage three melanoma and it had spread to her lymphatic system. We were told for so long everything was OK. I carry so much anger – she did everything right.”
Specialists referred Josie for immunotherapy in March but unfortunately the second round made her very poorly and induced Myasthenia gravis – a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular condition.
Jade said: “She started noticing neurological changes – her breathing became difficult, her eyes started drooping, and her movements started to change. It was so serious that she ended up in ICU because her lungs just weren’t working.”
Specialists determined that it was too dangerous to continue with immunotherapy – with the Myasthenia Gravis now posing more risk than the cancer, said Josie.
With no treatment for the cancer itself, the disease soon spread to her liver, lungs and eventually her spine. The family said they exhausted every avenue to try and help her. Jade revealed: “We reached out to doctors all over the world and no one could help. Josie even radically changed her diet and adopted such a positive mindset.
“We really did try every avenue, spiritually, emotionally and physically – she so desperately did not want to die. She kept fighting everyday for her girls – they are the most important thing. I have never known true strength until I saw what my sister went through, she lost everything with this disease – but it didn’t change her spirit.”
The family managed to celebrate Josie’s 37th birthday together at Disneyland Paris last year – which Josie described to her family as a “dream come true”. Her final months were spent being cared for at St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth. Jade said the care her sister received there was “nothing short of incredible”.
During her treatment, Josie established an online community named ‘Josie’s Journey’ – which gathered over 3,500 followers on Facebook. She utilised her platform to raise awareness and encourage others to get checked – and she received numerous messages informing her she had helped people detect their skin cancer early.
Jade stated: “Josie created a real community of people and the support they gave her over the years really kept her going. It makes me so so proud, knowing that she has saved lives means everything and was so important to her. She used to say, ‘if this can save one life it’s worth it’. That is her legacy.”
The family are now spreading the word about the risks of skin cancer and how individuals can take precautions to safeguard themselves.
Jade continued: “People think you can just cut skin cancer out and are quite blase about it – but melanoma is one of the most deadly cancers. I had never really heard of melanoma before this, but the amount of people that have reached out to Josie on her Facebook page to say they are going through similar things is crazy.
“We’re clearly warned that smoking causes lung cancer, with messages printed on cigarette packets, but we don’t feel the same level of awareness exists when it comes to skin cancer.
“When you’re in your teens or twenties, having a tan often feels like such an important thing – we’ve all been guilty of it. But it’s vital that people take a moment to think about the risks. The use of sunbeds is a major contributing factor to skin cancer cases worldwide.
“In a lot of countries sunbeds are banned – but not in the UK. We need to raise awareness about the dangers: protecting your skin doesn’t mean avoiding the sun completely, it means being sensible.
“Wear SPF30-50 every day (even in the UK) and reapply regularly, especially if you’re sweating or swimming, cover up with hats, sunglasses and light clothing, and avoid the strongest sun between 11am and 3pm where possible.
“Skip sunbeds altogether as they increase the risk of melanoma, and keep an eye on your skin – if you notice any changes, get them checked. Melanoma doesn’t always start from an existing mole.”
Jade has initiated a fundraiser to assist Josie’s family – her two young daughters and her husband, Laith, whom she had been with since she was 14. The funds will help cover Josie’s funeral expenses and contribute towards the care of the young girls.
