Woman told lump on head was 'skull growth' given grave diagnosis 20 year later
A woman has shared her "terrifying" ordeal after being told a lump on her head was simply a harmless skull growth which turned into a cancer diagnosis 20 years later.
When Kylie Barltett, 47, noticed a sizeable lump forming on her scalp, she tried to not let it bother her and continued living life as normal - until it started rapidly growing. The mum-of-four was referred to a cosmetic surgery for a biopsy, but the day before her operation was booked in, she was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans - a rare soft tissue cancer.
Now, the actor and model is sharing her ordeal in a bid to raise awareness, especially as she was left untreated for over two decades. "I was terrified, as it had reached an aggressive stage and they needed to operate immediately," said Kylie, who is mum to Kaleb, Viola, Molly, and Audrey.
"I was so scared I might die and not get to see my husband, Sean, and our four children anymore. Initially, doctors said it was just skull growth - but since then, I've found out there is no such thing. But I trusted them, even when it kept getting bigger. I believe if I'd been sent for a biopsy, I would look normal right now."
Kylie’s scalp after her surgery, leaving her needing a wig (Jam Press/Kylie Barlett/@thewiga)Kylie, from Queensland, Australia, first noticed the lump in the early 2000s and sought out medical advice immediately, but claims she was "dismissed". In January 2020, the mum decided to get a second opinion after her hairdresser asked if she was aware of a cyst forming on her head. She said: "I went to a new doctor, who sent me for an ultrasound and a biopsy. Before this, I had no concerns it was cancer."
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Kylie received her diagnosis in May 2020 and had to undergo a major operation to remove the cancerous lump, before her head was reconstructed using the muscles in her back and a skin graft from her leg. She was overjoyed to wake up "alive" following surgery but there was still a painful recovery ahead.
The mum told What'sTheJam: "I had no pain on my head because they had cut the nerve endings but I had two drains coming out of my back and all the stitches. It was impossible to move, cough, or do anything without it hurting my back. My leg hurt too from the skin graft.
Kylie, now with a new look, had the support of her husband Sean (Jam Press/Kylie Barlett/@thewiga)"I wasn't a fan of mirrors though, as I was left with a huge bald spot on the back of my head. I had a panic attack because I was so scared of looking in the mirror and seeing how I would look. That panic attack really hurt my back surgical site and I just couldn't prepare mentally for what I was going to look like."
Kylie thought she would have to live the rest of her life wearing beanies because she didn't like wigs, but changed her mind after trying on some with her best friend. She said: "I agreed to try on some wigs with my best friend for a laugh. I tried on fluorescent pink wigs and daggy brown wigs and then a pretty long blonde wig.
"I laughed and laughed - it was the first real laugh I'd had in months; my life had become so serious. I decided that if I was going to have to wear wigs I would wear a different wig every day. That led to Google searches, which led to Instagram and a world of women suffering from hair loss. Then I was hooked.
The mum-of-four was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (Jam Press/Kylie Barlett/@thewiga)
The Queensland native first noticed the lump in the early 2000s (Jam Press/Kylie Barlett/@thewiga)"I wanted to wear wigs and do reviews and I wanted to give back to a hair loss community that made me feel less alone." Kylie now has over 10,000 followers on her Instagram, where she posts reviews and shares her experiences, but she still struggles with accepting how she looks after cancer.
She added: "Sometimes, I feel like I look hideous and I don't want to scare anyone. Especially when I see a picture of the side of my head where the scar goes down near my ear. I don't see it that often so when I do see it I'm speechless. This isn't how anyone would want to look and sometimes it just hurts so much.
"I still tell my family when I'm going to take my wig off just in case they aren't ready. I think that it is going to take a long time to fully accept what happened to me and how I look. I had never ever heard of [this cancer] before my diagnosis. I want people to know the importance of getting any lumps checked and asking for a second opinion. Detecting the cancer when I did saved my life, as it's given me more time."
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