Boiled or Fried?

I am going to get on my soapbox now, and I really hope that you will read this message, think about it, and pass it on. Who knows, maybe even you are an offender?

Today, I popped out to the shops, and was quite distressed at what I saw. Girls of all ages, trawling up and down the aisles in their skimpiest gear. Now, before you think I've gone bananas, it wasn't their skimpy clothing that had me freaked out. Nope... it was the lobster-pink glow to their skin that made me want to cry!! Every year, I see the same process, and every year I thank my lucky stars I am still alive!

In January 2000, I became aware of a mole that looked damaged (it was red and weeping, and wouldn't heal). So, off I went, to visit my GP, who referred me to an excellent Pigmentation Lesion Clinic here in Bristol. I had my first appointment within days of visiting my GP. At that appointment several photographs were taken of this particular mole, and a further appointment (6 months later) was scheduled. Those 6 months were hell... it was the not knowing that was the worst.

Six months passed and I was back at the clinic, where another set of photos were taken, and it was within days of this that I received a letter from the clinic advising me that they wished to perform a biopsy. I duly went for said biopsy, and two weeks later was told the words I had been dreading... malignant .

Further surgery was immediately arranged, and in July 2000 I had further skin around the original biopsy site removed. I still go back to the unit once a year for a check-up, and I have been advised that there is a 5 - 15% of this cancer recurring, so you can imagine I take every caution possible these days. I don't use anything less than 50 SPF lotion, and I never go out in the midday sun. My time in the sun is always short, and I'll be the one lounging in the shade, should you see me at the beach!

But how did I get skin cancer? I spent many years living in southern Africa, where the glorious sunshine had lured me, as a teenager, to bronze my body. I can remember using coconut oil back in those days, and I also remember burning my chest when I was 18!! It was horrendously painful, as was burning my scalp in my early 20s, and that had happened after being out on a cloudy day!

My specialist has told me that skin cancer is becoming one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK, as the British take advantage of cheap flights, and flock to hot spots around the world, and forget to use or don't use the correct factor sun protection. Quite often, people will only apply protection once a day, when it should be re-applied at least every hour, even more often if you have been swimming. Having said that, the UK sun seems to be doing a good job of burning people before they head off to those hot spots!

Men are more prone to getting skin cancer on their torsos (how many men do we see in holiday spots with their shirts off, and bright red backs glowing back at us??) and women are prone to getting skin cancer on their arms and legs (one of my biopsies was on my left forearm).

Even more worrying...

The prolific use of sun beds by girls under the age of 16, which is actually illegal in the UK, has been revealed. Girls see their idols (pop and movie stars) looking all tanned and beautiful, and in order to emulate them, rush off to top up their tans on sun beds. Quite often these stars have actually spent a fortune on fake tans (the cost sometimes being totally out of reach for teenagers).

The makers of a television programme covering this topic, took a 13 yr old teenager, who frequently visited sunbeds, down to London, where a special photograph (which reveals skin damage) was taken of her face, and it was quite shocking to see the level of damage to her young skin!! Her mother was equally shocked, having not realised that her daughter's skin was much thinner and still developing in comparison to her own.

I have noticed that sun awareness has increased in the UK over the years, and despite all this information being out in the public domain, I am still surprised that women are so obsessed with tanning... has nobody told them that their skin could end up looking like an old leather handbag???

And if you're still not sure, please make sure you read this...