I was a sunbed addict using them every day and only realised they were deadly when I spotted a lump in a selfie
A SUNBED addict who used them almost every day for years only realised the dangers after spotting a lump on her forehead in a selfie.
Anna McCartney, 43, was then diagnosed with a “very aggressive” form of skin cancer.
She now lives with a large “horseshoe-shaped” scar – and regret over the seven years she spent regularly tanning.
Anna said: “The education on sun safety was not there when I was younger, especially as I was not only a sun worshipper, but I am embarrassed to say, addicted to sunbeds.
“When I think back, I used a sunbed almost every day from the ages of 15 to at least 22 – shocking, I know.
“Roll forward 20 years and I paid the price.”
In May 2021, Anna took a photo of herself for an online questionnaire to purchase skincare products and noticed an unusual spot.
Unsure of what it could be, she decided to keep an eye on it, taking a new picture of it each morning.
“Some people would have just written it off but, having suffered with severe acne in my early 20s, I knew this was not a normal spot,” she said.
Anna soon realised the lump was growing and contacted a plastic surgeon and cancer specialist, who immediately booked her in for a biopsy.
The following week she received a call from the doctor who broke the news that the lump was cancerous.
She was diagnosed with a common form of skin cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma.
Anna, who lives in Liverpool with her nine-year-old daughter Ariana, said: “I was really shocked because after the biopsy, my skin had healed so quickly, so I assumed everything would be fine.”
“To hear the word ‘cancer’ was terrifying but I knew I was in safe hands.”
Thankfully Anna’s cancer was caught early which meant it was treatable.
She underwent a 30-minute skin graft to remove it in June 2021 and, five weeks after the procedure, she was given the all-clear.
She said: “It was such a relief.
“It’s a very aggressive form of skin cancer so I was really lucky that it was caught early and acted on quickly.
“I was so angry with myself for the damage I’d caused to my skin for the sake of a tan.”
Now left with a visible scar on her face, Anna, chief executive of Elan Laser Clinics, wears sun cream daily and wants to warn others about the negative effects of UV exposure.
“This scar will be with me for life and it could have been so easily prevented,” she said.
“It reminds me every day what an idiot I was when I was younger.
“Sunbeds should be banned as far as I am concerned – they have no place in the world of beauty and cause more damage than a tan is worth.”
What are the signs of skin cancer?
SKIN cancer is one of the most common in the world.
There are two types – non-melanoma and melanoma.
The first sign of non-melanoma cancer is usually the appearance of a lump or discoloured patch of skin that persists for several weeks or years.
The main symptoms of melanoma skin cancer is a new mole, or changes to an existing one.
This could be an uneven shape or edges, a mix of colours, and an increase in size.