Dad who ignored huge golf ball-sized lump for weeks diagnosed with chronic illness

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A dad has been diagnosed with a chronic disease after he ignored a lump his neck that was the size of a golf ball. Having not paid attention to the lump for months, it took Thomas Roberts several years to be told he had a painful case of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) because of a lack of research and knowledge of the debilitating skin condition, he says.

It often leaves the 26-year-old man in agony and causes further cysts to flare up on his body. So far, Thomas has had five operations to remove cysts, all caused by his HS, which causes scarring and boil-like nodules to regularly appear on Thomas' body.

If that wasn't enough, Thomas has told The Mirror he has often been the subject of ridicule by strangers on the street. READ MORE: Greater Manchester's borough by borough, hour by hour weather forecast as Met Office issues snow warning READ MORE: Inside Christmas at Heaton Park as makers of Dunham Massey's festive event bring new light trail to Manchester People have yelled horrible comments about scars on his skin over the years, and this has impacted Thomas' mental health.

The dad of two, from Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, said: "People do make comments and give me looks. "I don't think it is with the intention to upset but it can be tough.