When deciding what to write about for my second blog post, a post about cancer wasn’t at the top of my list for fun topics. However, a few things have made me realise that, actually, now IS the time for this post. Spring is here, the weather is getting better and more and more of us are looking forward to family barbeques as restrictions begin to lift. I’ve also just refreshed my MASCED (Melanoma And Skin Cancer Early Detection) accreditation so it’s all very fresh in my mind.
This blog post isn’t designed as a lecture but a way to raise awareness based on my own experience with Melanoma.
Yes, I used to use sunbeds.
Yes, I used to use the lowest factor sunscreen I possibly could to get the best tan. Yes, I used to think it’s “only skin cancer”.
Yes, I’ve burnt in the sun and thought, “ah well, that will go nice and brown in a few days”.
Yes, I used to think “It won’t happen to me”.
Yes, it did.
Back when I was young, naïve, and skin cancer just wasn’t on my radar, I used to neglect putting sunscreen on my feet as well as the rest of my body, I’d walk outside in flip flops and just not think about it. One day I noticed a new mole/freckle on my left foot. I didn’t really pay much attention to it and carried on as normal, then it started to get bigger and darker in the middle. It didn’t bleed, it didn’t look particularly “nasty”, but I had it looked at – just in case. Verdict was – it’s just a freckle. Ok, cool!
But it got bigger, and darker and I got more concerned about it. I even covered it up when I went on the sunbed. (told you – naïve!!) 4 doctors and around 2 years later I was referred to have it removed. The wound healed and I just carried on with life, thinking that was it. I was told to come in for results – which I thought was a massive overkill and hassle for something so simple.
My first experience dealing with a MacMillan nurse was to be told that the pretty non-descript, non sinister mole I’d had removed was melanoma and that they’d need to do more surgery to remove and test the skin around it. I was stunned. No one wants to hear the word “cancer” ever, regardless of how simple it is to treat or how lucky they are that it wasn’t worse.
I decided on that day that if I could stop 1 more person ignoring a mole or raise awareness about the dangers of sunbeds or inadequate sun care then I would. This is now my drum to bang. I know how lucky I was, I know how insignificant it was in the grand scheme of things, but it could have been SO DIFFERENT if I hadn’t listened to my body.
So, that’s enough of me wibbling on, let’s get down to the real reason we are here and talk skin cancer. I am going to focus on melanoma as that was my experience and melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Did you know:
Sunbeds are not safe – FACT. Sunbeds give out the same harmful rays as the sun, but at a greater intensity, (10-15 times higher than the midday sun!!!). They dramatically increase a person’s risk of cell damage and skin cancer. Using a sunbed just once a month can increase a risk of developing skin cancer by more than 50%. Using a sunbed will NOT prepare or protect the skin before going abroad, it just increases cumulative damage and risk. So please, sack your sunbed and fake it. There are so many fantastic tanning products available now and I am happy to advise and help with these!
How to spot melanoma:
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, if undetected it can spread to other parts of the body. It is difficult to treat and can be fatal. Melanoma can most frequently appear as a new spot or a mole or can be an existing spot or mole that has changed in size, colour, or shape.
The A,B,C,D,E of melanoma can be a helpful way of recognising melanoma characteristics.
A = ASYMMETRY – When one half of the mole does not match or look like the other half of the mole.
B = BORDER - When the borders of the mole are uneven, irregular, ragged or have blurred undefined edges.
C = COLOUR – When the colour changes or varies throughout. Red, blue and black colourations are a particularly bad sign.
D = DIAMETER – When the diameter is greater than 6mm. But please be aware that it could be smaller.
E = EVOLVING – Changes in a new spot or mole over variable time is the biggest indicator of a melanoma.
Another clue to detecting skin cancer is “The Ugly Duckling”. If you notice any marks or moles on your skin that look ugly or don't match any of the other spots or moles, it’s worth getting it checked out.
My main message to you today is – if in doubt, get it checked out! You will need to book to see a Dermatologist at your GP practice as they will have the correct tools and knowledge to give an accurate diagnosis.
Be aware of your body. Go look, and I mean really look, at your skin in the mirror. What looks “normal” to you. Map it, photograph it and be aware if anything changes.
I wrote this blog with the help of SKCIN, a charitable organisation who are helping to raise awareness of skin cancers. They do excellent work and through them I completed the MASCED accreditation to help detect early signs of skin cancer. I have some of their fantastic guides in the salon that you are welcome to, and you can access their website for further information, support or even donate. If any of my fellow hairdressers or beauty therapists are interested in the MASCED course you can sign up online.
www.skcin.org
Thanks for reading! And I promise BLOG 3 will be more light-hearted.
This blog post isn’t designed as a lecture but a way to raise awareness based on my own experience with Melanoma.
Yes, I used to use sunbeds.
Yes, I used to use the lowest factor sunscreen I possibly could to get the best tan. Yes, I used to think it’s “only skin cancer”.
Yes, I’ve burnt in the sun and thought, “ah well, that will go nice and brown in a few days”.
Yes, I used to think “It won’t happen to me”.
Yes, it did.
Back when I was young, naïve, and skin cancer just wasn’t on my radar, I used to neglect putting sunscreen on my feet as well as the rest of my body, I’d walk outside in flip flops and just not think about it. One day I noticed a new mole/freckle on my left foot. I didn’t really pay much attention to it and carried on as normal, then it started to get bigger and darker in the middle. It didn’t bleed, it didn’t look particularly “nasty”, but I had it looked at – just in case. Verdict was – it’s just a freckle. Ok, cool!
But it got bigger, and darker and I got more concerned about it. I even covered it up when I went on the sunbed. (told you – naïve!!) 4 doctors and around 2 years later I was referred to have it removed. The wound healed and I just carried on with life, thinking that was it. I was told to come in for results – which I thought was a massive overkill and hassle for something so simple.
My first experience dealing with a MacMillan nurse was to be told that the pretty non-descript, non sinister mole I’d had removed was melanoma and that they’d need to do more surgery to remove and test the skin around it. I was stunned. No one wants to hear the word “cancer” ever, regardless of how simple it is to treat or how lucky they are that it wasn’t worse.
I decided on that day that if I could stop 1 more person ignoring a mole or raise awareness about the dangers of sunbeds or inadequate sun care then I would. This is now my drum to bang. I know how lucky I was, I know how insignificant it was in the grand scheme of things, but it could have been SO DIFFERENT if I hadn’t listened to my body.
So, that’s enough of me wibbling on, let’s get down to the real reason we are here and talk skin cancer. I am going to focus on melanoma as that was my experience and melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Did you know:
- Over the last 25 years, rates of melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer, killing more people in the UK than the sunshine capital of the world, Australia*
- Early detection of melanoma is vital for survival
- There are over 2,400 deaths from melanoma every year*.
- 86% of melanoma cases are preventable*. You read that right 86%!
- 1 in 54 people will be diagnosed with malignant melanoma in their lifetime.*
- An average of 42 cases are diagnosed every day in the UK*.
*(Statistics provided by Cancer Research UK 2018)
Sunbeds are not safe – FACT. Sunbeds give out the same harmful rays as the sun, but at a greater intensity, (10-15 times higher than the midday sun!!!). They dramatically increase a person’s risk of cell damage and skin cancer. Using a sunbed just once a month can increase a risk of developing skin cancer by more than 50%. Using a sunbed will NOT prepare or protect the skin before going abroad, it just increases cumulative damage and risk. So please, sack your sunbed and fake it. There are so many fantastic tanning products available now and I am happy to advise and help with these!
How to spot melanoma:
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, if undetected it can spread to other parts of the body. It is difficult to treat and can be fatal. Melanoma can most frequently appear as a new spot or a mole or can be an existing spot or mole that has changed in size, colour, or shape.
The A,B,C,D,E of melanoma can be a helpful way of recognising melanoma characteristics.
A = ASYMMETRY – When one half of the mole does not match or look like the other half of the mole.
B = BORDER - When the borders of the mole are uneven, irregular, ragged or have blurred undefined edges.
C = COLOUR – When the colour changes or varies throughout. Red, blue and black colourations are a particularly bad sign.
D = DIAMETER – When the diameter is greater than 6mm. But please be aware that it could be smaller.
E = EVOLVING – Changes in a new spot or mole over variable time is the biggest indicator of a melanoma.
Another clue to detecting skin cancer is “The Ugly Duckling”. If you notice any marks or moles on your skin that look ugly or don't match any of the other spots or moles, it’s worth getting it checked out.
My main message to you today is – if in doubt, get it checked out! You will need to book to see a Dermatologist at your GP practice as they will have the correct tools and knowledge to give an accurate diagnosis.
Be aware of your body. Go look, and I mean really look, at your skin in the mirror. What looks “normal” to you. Map it, photograph it and be aware if anything changes.
I wrote this blog with the help of SKCIN, a charitable organisation who are helping to raise awareness of skin cancers. They do excellent work and through them I completed the MASCED accreditation to help detect early signs of skin cancer. I have some of their fantastic guides in the salon that you are welcome to, and you can access their website for further information, support or even donate. If any of my fellow hairdressers or beauty therapists are interested in the MASCED course you can sign up online.
www.skcin.org
Thanks for reading! And I promise BLOG 3 will be more light-hearted.