Angry Hereford businessman Glyn Williams is anxiously pressing for action to treat a skin cancer problem which is causing him considerable pain.
The 54-year-old proprietor of the Bargain Centre in Widemarsh Street told the Journal he was anxious to have a two-inch growth on one of his testicles – which he describes as “damned uncomfortable and at times downright painful” – surgically removed.
Last month it was diagnosed as Bowen’s Disease, a pre-invasive skin cancer, following a biopsy carried out at Hereford County Hospital. “A week after the biopsy, it became infected and was raw and weeping; it’s flipping painful,” said Mr Williams.
He has conducted his own research into Bowen’s Disease on the Cancer Research UK website. “It says it’s a pre-invasive cancer and it’s not going anywhere, but if it’s left it will go somewhere.”
Mr Williams said the problem first developed three years ago, and he was desperately calling for action to deal with the growth as soon as possible. “Whether it’s going somewhere or not, I want to have it removed,” said Mr Williams.
He claimed that when he returned to the hospital to hear the result of his biopsy, he was told the doctor who performed the procedure had left. “I told the nurse, I have got a skin cancer, what are we going to do about this thing growing? But she said, ‘unfortunately the doctor doesn’t know and is doing some research’!
“I thought, is this a joke, am I being filmed for You’ve Been Framed!”
Mr Williams said he was told that his files were being passed to a surgeon at the hospital, but “I think they simply called me in to tick boxes,” he said.
“What the hell’s going on? I am in pain and I have a two-inch growth on the side of my testicle. It’s damned uncomfortable, and at times it’s downright painful. I have to bath two to three times a day and I’m putting lots of cream on, but the hospital has given me nothing. I really want it cut off.”
He pointed out information on the Cancer Research UK website which states that “Bowen’s disease is the name for a pre-invasive form of squamous cell skin cancer which means that cancer cells are present, but only in the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis”.
It continues: “It takes a long time for Bowen’s disease to develop into an invasive cancer. But the risk of developing into a cancer remains as long as the Bowen’s has not been treated.”
A spokesperson for the hospital said it was not possible to discuss the matter due to patient confidentiality.
However, she encouraged Mr Williams to take any queries and concerns to the hospital’s Patient Advice & Liaison Service.