Here’s a cautionary tale from Gillian Robson, the co-founder of the suncare/self-tanning brand TanCream with her guide on what to do and look for.

May is Melanoma Awareness Month and the message here is very clear ‘please be skin savvy during the lockdown.’ As we’re now allowed outside and the lockdown has loosened, the question is: Have you putting on your SPF? Please take a moment to check your skin and if you have any concerns or if anything that does not look quite right, do seek professional advice.

HERE IS GILLIAN’S STORY:

“My first mole appeared on the back of my left leg at the base of my thigh – I first noticed a slight mark and within days it got darker and then within ten days, it became irregular and even darker. My gut instinct kicked in. I knew it didn’t look right so I took myself off to the GP who immediately fast-tracked me. Within a few days, I was in the hospital, had it checked by a dermatologist and it was removed there and then!
We are SO LUCKY to have such an amazing NHS system
I got my results within about 10 days. A day I will never forget as I walked in to see the consultant only to be faced with a MacMillan nurse when they told me the devastating news. None of us want to hear the word ‘cancer’ but yes it was an aggressive form of Malignant Melanoma (skin cancer) I had to have more surgery to remove more skin, this was the most horrendous and terrifying time. Having to wait for the results to see if it had gone any deeper than 6mm below the surface as this would go into my bones and bloodstream.

This is a mole that Gillian had removed from her face in August 2019

It is so frightening to think if this happens, it spreads rapidly and in most cases, it can be fatal. Thankfully mine was contained in that area and had not spread, what a relief that was! However, 2 months later when I started with back pain the rollercoaster started again. They rushed me in to have some bone scans and blood tests as they were worried it had escaped them – the NHS is incredible – I was fast-tracked to have all the tests, then a wait for 2 weeks for the results seemed like forever, and my life was on hold! I was determined to remain positive and that this wasn’t going to take me away from my family. This I learned from my aunt who died when I was 12, she taught me lots of values in life but most of all to keep smiling and stay positive. Something she did so well during the last few months of her life as she hid her pain from me and that has given me the strength to get through anything. The next two weeks were all a bit of a blur really, but the call came to say I was all clear of any signs that cancer had spread.
My new life began – I was determined to make others understand why it is so important to wear sun protection. I felt guilty that I had used sunbeds, sunbathed with little sun cream on – something that so many of us did as we didn’t know the reality behind the harmful UV rays that the sun did to our skin and how bad sunbeds really are. Now I was paying the price for it all as I now live with skin cancer. I have had 14 lesions removed over the years; basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas all caught in time as I now know what I’m looking for.
Knowing your own skin and any changes is so important. My number one tip would be to photograph all your skin areas. Take them in good lighting and get your partner to take photos of your back and back of the legs – these are the most common areas to get issues as they are the places we miss when applying sun protection.
If there are certain moles or skin issues that your gut feeling makes you feel uneasy then pay more attention to them. Watch those closely every day and take photos (make sure they are taken in the same lighting as previous ones and the same angle). Measure the diameter over a few days if they change then get them checked out – at the moment due to COVID 19 none of us want to have face to face appointments – so give your GP a call, explain exactly how it’s changed and that you have photos. Offer to send them over via email so they can send them direct to the dermatology department and they can look at them more closely – if there are any concerns then they will tell you the next steps.

Early detection in any cancer is key and skin cancer can affect all skin types

Skin cancer is predicted to be the most common cancer by 2024, 86% is preventable if we wear sun protection. Our skin is the largest organ in our body so we must look after it. After all, if there was a cream that we could apply to prevent breast cancer you’d wear it. It is estimated to cost the NHS £180 million this year, so let us start saving them money and looking after our skin.

I also have some more information I can share with you from MelanomaMe a charity in the North East that supports patients and families experiencing skin cancer. Kerry the founder has also had skin cancer so knows only too well how important it is to talk & share your experiences.”

Other UK charities that Gillian suggests are:

As a footnote, The Amazing Blog highly recommends Gillian’s Tancream it’s SPF 50 with a 5* UV it’s also a gradual self-tan bronzer that’s anti-ageing, odour and streak-free. As a unique blend of sunscreen and sunless tanning and has become a multi-award winner, recently with The Beauty Shortlist Award for Innovation. See here to purchase your 100ml Tancream at £44.95.