10-Month-Old’s Body Covered in ‘Painful Bleeding Lesions’ from Rare Cancerous Birthmark

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Macey-Mai was born with a rare skin condition that causes more than 100 birthmarks and a high risk of melanoma

• Her mother, Katelyn Clarke, monitors her painful lesions every day after one was found to be cancerous

• Doctors fear the cancer will spread as Macey-Mai faces life-threatening surgeries and ongoing treatment

A 10-month-old girl is facing a cancer diagnosis after her rare birthmark caused “painful, bleeding lesions”.

Katelyn Clarke, 23, of Plymouth, England, had a normal, healthy pregnancy before giving birth to her third child, daughter Macey-Mai, in May 2025.

However, she soon learned that her little girl was born with giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN). It is a rare skin condition characterized by an abnormally dark, non-cancerous tumor-like birthmark (nevus). National Institutes of Health.

Often dry and prone to irritation, itching, and excessive hair growth, GCMN can appear anywhere on the body. Individuals with this condition have an increased risk of developing an aggressive type of skin cancer called melanoma, the NIH said.

For Macey-Mai, the largest CMN covers her entire back, and she has over 100 smaller-sized CMNs on her abdomen, scalp, legs, and arms. clarke said Southwest News Service He said he was “completely shocked” when he learned of the dark spots.

Macey-Mai’s largest birthmark also had seven painful lesions that were bleeding and growing rapidly, so they had to be removed.

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In August 2025, he underwent a biopsy and also underwent surgery to remove lesions, which were sent for genetic testing.

Clarke spent months waiting for the results, and in the meantime Macey-Mai’s lesions were treated with antibiotics. Doctors also told her that she should monitor her daughter for any changes in the size of her lesions; Any differences could be a sign of cancer.

“I have to take pictures every day, sit there and look at every inch of her,” he explained. “Any change, even the smallest changes, can guarantee the worst.”

Unfortunately, in March 2026, Clarke received distressing biopsy results: One of Macey-Mai’s lesions was cancerous.

“I’ve never cried like this before, I’ve been heartbroken ever since we got the news that one of the masses was malignant,” she said. “It was very difficult to understand.”

“I knew with this condition you would probably end up with malignancy at some point, but then they said you were an adult,” he added. “They never say you can be born with it, so it’s devastating to know that’s already the case.”

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Clarke has been sharing updates since then GoFundMeThis reveals that doctors are concerned about the cancer spreading as Macey-Mai’s lesions continue to grow. He will probably need another surgery and treatment.

“It’s extremely difficult to cope with being a parent of three children, as well as being a parent of a baby with such a rare condition,” she told SWNS.

As Macey-Mai approaches her first birthday, Clarke admitted the milestone is bittersweet due to her ongoing health issues, but she wants to give her daughter the “best birthday ever.”

“We’ll never know if this will be the last time,” he said.

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