Joyce Haigh, 79 year old woman has tumor the size of a football removed from face.

Joyce Haigh, a 79 year old woman has had a tumor the size of a football, and weighing 4,4 pounds removed from the side of her face.

The tumor is believed to be the largest ever reported in the UK in over 20 years, this according to Muhamad Quraishi, an ear, notes and throat surgeon who operated on the women.

Incredulously, Joyce Haigh told she hadn’t realized the size of the tumor until doctors showed it to her in a mirror.

Told the woman: ‘I know I should have done something sooner about the tumour, but I wasn’t in any pain and, I am ashamed to say, I was afraid to go to the doctors about it.

‘Now though, I wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor about anything, and would encourage people who may be experiencing health problems of any kind to get help right away, because the people at the hospital are fantastic.

‘My husband George, our nephews and nieces were all worried when the lump started getting bigger. 

‘I could cope with it when it was small but over the years it just grew and I suppose in the end I feared the worst.’

The final straw came on October 13 last year when the woman’s husband insisted Joyce Haigh see a doctor after noticing the growth beginning to bleed.

Recalled the woman: ‘I saw Mr Quraishi before Christmas, and he was wonderful. He showed me the 

photos of the side view of the lump which I had not seen before. It was at that point that I realised just how bad it was.

‘I was frightened of having the operation, but actually everything was fine. They took two biopsies and although I do need further treatment, I’m just so glad the lump has gone.

‘I plan to get back to being normal again, buy some new clothes and enjoy life.’

She added: ‘The operation has given me a new lease of life as I can go out now without worrying about people staring at me. 

‘The staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary were marvellous and I can’t thank them enough.’

Reiterated the woman’s surgeon, Muhamad Quraishi: ‘In the whole of my 20-year medical career, I can honestly say that I have never seen or treated such a massive tumor.

‘The operation itself was quite challenging and I am happy with the outcome and that the operation was a complete success.

‘The greatest challenge was to prevent the side of Joyce’s face from becoming permanently paralysed, which we successfully prevented.

‘I have since found out that Joyce’s lump is the largest to have been removed from somebody’s head or neck at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals and the largest ever reported in UK.’