A woman who had half her nose and a part of her cheek removed after being diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumour wants to share her story to stop others with the condition feeling alone.

Surrey Comet:

Denise Cropp was referred to a dermatologist at Kingston Hospital in March 2015

Denise Cropp, who lived in Malden Rushett until a move to Epsom Downs last month, was forced into surgery after her diagnosis had gone undetected for three years.

In 2012 a small mark on the side of her nose, which was not initially considered serious by her GP, developed into a lump, and continued to grow.

It was only when Mrs Cropp was referred to a dermatologist at Kingston Hospital in March 2015 that she was diagnosed with a trichoblastoma basaloid epithelial tumour - a large nasal tumour.

The 49-year-old said: "The clinical specialist didn't know what to say to me as she'd never seen it before.

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me. It's just sad that people can misinterpret it."

Mrs Cropp was unable to find any support groups that related to her and struggled at first.

This summer she had the nasal tumour fully removed at St Thomas' Hospital in central London.

Now although her cancer has been treated, Mrs Cropp has been left with a very different facial structure following the surgery.

She said: "I'm a very strong and independent woman and I went out and faced the world.

"If one person sees this and thinks I'm not alone, that's good."

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