In 2023 I went to Greece on holiday. Having had several moles removed previously I was conscious of the dangers of the sun and made sure I wore a hat and used high factor sunscreen. However, I did sunbathe.
Later that year, I felt a tiny, raised lump on my right upper arm. It wasn’t itchy but I could feel it through my clothes and if I rubbed it too much in the shower it bled.
I didn’t think too much of it, but it didn’t go away, so I booked a GP appointment after Christmas. I saw a specialist nurse who didn’t seem too concerned but referred me to a dermatology department in Calderdale. I saw a nurse consultant who thought it could be a squamous cell carcinoma and said it should be removed.
I had surgery to remove the lump and surrounding cells and was told a biopsy would be sent for further examination. Again, I didn’t want to overthink it and when I was recalled I thought it was to check my stitches.
A friend offered to go with me, and I was so glad she did as when I went in to see the consultant, who was accompanied by a Macmillan nurse, I I was told I had malignant melanoma.
My world stopped. It was hard to take in having recovered from ovarian cancer several years before.
Twelve weeks after my diagnosis of ovarian cancer, my lovely mum Shirley died after also suffering from ovarian cancer. My skin cancer diagnosis reignited feelings of grief to re-surface, and I kept thinking ‘what would mum do in this situation.’
To my huge relief, my biopsy results came back as all clear, although I require regular check-ups.
I’m now really keen to raise awareness of skin cancer and how people can protect themselves against the power of the sun. Whilst the sun can make people feel happy and be a good source of vitamin D, it can also be extremely dangerous.”
Gill’s tips include:
- Covering up arms and legs and wearing a wide brimmed hat to protect your face and neck
- Use sun cream with a high sun protection factor of at least 30 – “I put mine automatically after my shower. It’s as routine for me as brushing my teeth.”
- Wear sunglasses
- Stay out of the sun during the hottest time of the day, 11am-3pm
- Check your skin regularly for signs of any changes
For advice can be found here: Top tips to stay safe in the sun - Macmillan Online Community
