This Mississauga mom had her skin cancer symptoms dismissed by dermatologists. A new clinic came to the rescue - Toronto Star

Liliya Leheta had a referral declined. A new program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre diagnosed her within two weeks.

Liliya Leheta at her Mississauga home. The mother of three and nail salon owner discovered a strange mole on her chest that continued to grow over time. But her symptoms were dismissed by dermatologists, and her referral to a specialist was declined.

Liliya Leheta, a Mississauga-based mom of three, was out with her kids on a sunny day in March of 2023 when she realized she forgot to apply sunscreen. The next day, she noticed her skin peeling on her sternum, but thought little of it — until, less than a year later, she noticed a strange, red mole that suddenly appeared near the centre of her chest.

A striking shift in demographics is worrying doctors who say it’s part of a wider trend showing steep increases of cancer in people under 50.