Katherine Ryan has revealed she was hit with a surprise £6,000 bill for a blood test offered as part of her follow-up care after being treated for skin cancer.
The 41-year-old comedian recently told fans she had been diagnosed with early-stage melanoma — a form of skin cancer — for the second time.
She shared an image of the mole on her Instagram Story, writing: “Here’s a photo of the melanoma (which tbf really does not look like melanoma) in the office before they took it off.”
Ryan had the mole and surrounding tissue removed last week and later confirmed that her test results showed the cancerous area had been fully cleared.
“Waiting for the histology was really peaceful because I knew after the second removal, everything from that area would be gone. And it was confirmed as gone,” she told followers.
Although relieved to be cancer-free, Ryan said she was offered a preventative blood test by her oncologist to assess the genetic risk of future recurrence.
Speaking on her podcast Telling Everybody Everything, she explained: “This company was so amazing and really attentive right away.
“I got an email right after my meeting with the oncologist from the patient coordinator who was like, we are going to do this DNA test, we just have to take some of your blood and we’re gonna send someone to your house to get it. I was like, perfect!”
She went on to describe the experience with humour, adding: “The guy shows up – an absolute hunk. A very well-dressed, young, Selling Sunset type. It was a great experience. The phlebotomist took my blood quickly and everyone looked after me very well.”
However, the shock came shortly after the appointment.
“They leave, and then seconds later into my inbox, I get the bill. Six grand! Six thousand pounds for the blood test. I thought, oh god, I knew that Selling Sunset hunk was too premium.”
Ryan admitted that telling her partner Bobby was a mistake: “I showed Bobby and that was my biggest mistake. He was like, ‘What?! A blood test!?’ And I was like, you know what though Bobby, if it saves your life, then that’s very little.
“I just think you can’t be too careful with this stuff. I’m very lucky to have access to this kind of thing.”
Ryan added that she’s still waiting for the results from the expensive test.
She continued: “My understanding is it can test tumours and it can test your blood and it can test your DNA for exactly what type of cancer you may have, or what type of cancer gene.
“Like, I may have a melanoma gene. I don’t know what they can do with that information – I think there are some medications to turn that gene off – but they do in vitro testing on your specific DNA.
“So they take your DNA and put it in glass and they use a variety of treatments on the specific genome that you have, and it will show what works best for you.
“Just to be clear, I don’t need any other treatments at the minute. We’re just doing investigative preventative stuff. It’s a little trial and error before they land on the thing that works for you or for that specific type of cancer that you’re dealing with.”
Despite the hefty pricetag, Ryan urged those who follow her to seek one out if they’re recovering from cancer.
She shared: “If you are undergoing any type of cancer investigations or treatments and you are doing that through the NHS, I think ask your NHS doctor if they do in vitro genetic testing to see what type of treatment is right for you.”
