Health Tips

"From the age of 16 to 26, I always went on holidays with the intention of getting a glorious tan,” Rachel says. “I always slapped on the factor 25 sunscreen for the first couple of days. But by the second week, I’d cover myself in oil because I wanted to get really brown

“In 2000, I discovered this funny mole between my toes. I’ve always had moles on my body, but none had ever caused me any problems. My doctor told me to keep an eye on it.

“The next summer, when I started wearing my flip-flops, the mole looked a funny colour. My doctor sent me straight to a specialist and within minutes I was taken to the operating theatre, and the mole was whipped off.

“Back home I rested my foot, but I wasn’t worried. I remember thinking, ‘I’m 26 years old: how bad can it be?’

“Ten days later, I got the phone call that would change my life. The mole was a malignant melanoma. The specialist was concerned that if the tumour was more than a millimetre deep, it could have spread to other areas of my body.

“I went back to hospital, where they cut out a larger area of my toe. Then they checked to see if the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes (the glands that drain away toxins from the body). Two in my groin and two in my thigh had to be removed.

“I had to wait two weeks to find out if I was in the clear. Thankfully, they’d managed to take out all the malignant cells and I didn’t need chemotherapy, but I was monitored for any recurrence.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky. If my cancer hadn’t been caught early, it could have spread to organs including my liver and brain and I may not be here today.

“I now look at the photos of me with my tan and think how silly I was. I have to be incredibly careful if I go out in the sun now. I always cover up with long trousers and long-sleeved shirts and a hat. When I want a tan now, I use fake tan. My advice to anyone is to stay out of the sun: just cheat and keep safe.”
Mole alert

Any changes to the size or consistency of skin moles should be considered suspect. The following signs could indicate cancerous changes. See a doctor if a mole:

Develops uneven, spider-like edges.
Grows noticeably.
Develops uneven colouring.
Itches or develops a crust.
Weeps and bleeds.

Did you know?

Britain has more deaths from skin cancer than Australia.
The incidence of melanoma have increased by 24% in the last five years.
Around 7,000 people a year are diagnosed with malignant melanomas.
Melanoma is the third most common cancer among people aged 15-39.
We need 15 minutes of sun a day for bodies to produce enough vitamin D to keep bones strong – but you don't need to strip off and tan. Just the sun on your arms or face as you walk around is enough.