Man thought unusual spot on his nose would ‘go away on its own’—months later, he learned a life-changing reality
Even the slightest signs and changes in the body indicate something noteworthy. They should not be dismissed and, at the very least, should be observed and checked out medically. A 42-year-old man named Ben Murray had a weird spot on his nose, The Washington Post revealed. He never really thought of investigating how it might have appeared. After creating different theories in his mind, the man hoped it would go away on its own. Unfortunately, after months had passed, he experienced unusual changes in the spot that urged him to consult medical professionals.
At the time, when Murray got the spot on his nose in 2020, a lot was going on. The pandemic, his job and expecting his first baby with his wife. He chose not to prioritize the pea-sized sight. Eventually, he convinced himself that it was “something weird that would go away on its own.” Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Months after it prevailed on his nose, it started to get red and at one point, even bled. This concerned the man and he began seeking medical guidance. Murray first approached a dermatologist who told him it was rosacea. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition affects the skin, mainly the cheeks or nose and causes redness. It can cause flare-ups and is commonly seen among people in their 30s and above.
Murray was prescribed some applications for it, but it didn’t work. He then visited a physician who had no diagnosis to give and was recommended to an ENT specialist. There, he was told it was a staph infection and was given creams. “He seemed pretty sure he had nailed it,” the man recalled. To his misfortune, those treatments also showed no change. The next suggestion was a CT scan followed by a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis. The doctor highlighted that surgery could be a fix, but Murray wanted another opinion. “When you get something like this, you’re not just trying to get better. You’re doing it to be able to soldier through ... [and to] keep everyone around you as sane and as unburdened as they can be,” he explained.
Murray was given creams, which again didn’t work and ultimately, he was asked to get a biopsy done. Finally, came a life-changing diagnosis — skin cancer. He further learned that this was a rare type of cancer — an aggressive form of squamoid eccrine ductal carcinoma (SEDC), or cancer of the sweat glands. Since only a few hundred people have ever had the condition, less is known about it. The treatment process was restricted but overwhelming — A rhinectomy, followed by a series of surgeries, radiation and the hope for the best.
“My initial reaction was, ‘No friggin’ way,’” Murray recounted. However, when he thought about how it was the only shot he had, he decided to go ahead. After an unfathomable struggle, Murray was on his way to recovery. “It was way harder in the beginning. It really kind of cripples you for a bit,” he said. His face and skin had completely changed due to the nose surgeries but for him, having another chance at life meant more. From being a pea-sized spot to a life-altering sign, the journey required resilience and persistence like no other. He later started the Rhinectomy Support Network and now helps those like him to face a life-altering phase.
