Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely is continuing to highlight the dangers of skin cancers following a meeting with the family of 26-year-old Zoe Panayi who lost her life to the disease in May 2020, 3 years after she was given a false ‘all-clear’ diagnosis.
Zoe was reportedly told by a GP that a mole she was concerned about was ‘fine’, so she subsequently had it removed at a private clinic. Later, however, she found out she had Stage 4 melanoma.
Since Zoe’s death, her family have been campaigning for changes to medical practices to ensure all moles removed at private clinics are tested. A petition started by the family following Zoe’s death has since gained over 33,000 signatures but the family say they hope to reach 100,000.
Bob, who has supported the campaign since it started, recently met Zoe’s mother, Eileen Punter, to discuss what more could be done to make people more aware of the signs of skin cancer, or melanoma. He said:
“It’s really important we don’t forget about this campaign. Zoe would not want others to suffer as she did, and as her family have done.
“Zoe’s family and friends have done amazing work campaigning for change, raising awareness and fundraising for charity. They should be very proud of what they have achieved. What they are asking for is a simple change that could save lives and we have to ensure their voice continues to be heard.
“I will be meeting with consultants to see what practical advice and help the NHS can give to minimise the chances of this happening again. We need to ensure that what happened to Zoe is never repeated.”
Bob said he also shared the family’s aim of raising awareness of skin cancer and what to look for.
Eileen said:
“We do a lot of fundraising in Zoe’s name with all donations going to Mountbatten Hospice.
“Our main aim is to raise as much awareness as we possibly can not only on the Island and in the UK but around the world as it was Zoe’s wish for us to do this especially as she wanted no other families to go through what she went through and especially her two young boys growing up without their mummy.
“Zoe’s boys were her life – Zoe was my life and Zoe did not want others to suffer and wanted us to help as many people as we can: that is what we are doing and why we have reached out to Bob.
“Awareness and education are key – everyone should know how to protect themselves and what to look out for – and people need to be listened to and not overlooked as Zoe was.”
The family is in the process of buying a Skin Camera and plans to attend community events and use the equipment to explain to people what to look out for.
Zoe’s brother, Charlie, has set up a JustGiving Page for next year as he will be doing a host of fundraising events to support the family’s work.
You can sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-make-it-zoe-s-law-ensure-all-moles-tags-removed-are-tested-by-law-for-melanoma-cancer.
It would be very interesting, and informative, if the private clinic could be named.
A sad outcome, I would like to know if the mole removal was purely a vanity thing, if so a huge price to pay for cosmetic surgery.
The NHS would likely have made her aware of the risks in removing moles and likely not have carried it out unless it was causing discomfort or seemed at risk from becoming cancerous.
The family are doing the right thing in making others aware and full praise to them all.
Agree, BUT should have used gabion cages imo.
I went to the doctors with a dodgy mole back in September, pictures were taken and sent to a clinic for further investigation, and was told if needed to be investigated further I will receive an appointment from said clinic….. got the appointment but I am not being seen till end of December. I am just hoping it isn’t anything sinister, as having to wait 3 months for it to be properly checked out is worrying me.
God bless you Zoe XXXX