When I started looking into skin cancer for my latest podcast episode, I thought I knew enough. Slap on some factor 30, wear a hat, job done. But talking to Susanna Daniels from Melanoma Focus and hearing the raw experiences of Paul, Rachel, and Jenny was a wake-up call.
The Stories That Hit Hard
Paul’s story started out with a seemingly common enough event. At 32, his wife spotted a mole on his back. Even a Harley Street specialist initially dismissed it. But apparently that’s melanoma – sneaky, unpredictable, and potentially deadly if caught late.
Rachel’s experience with multiple basal cell carcinomas paints an even grimmer picture. “Bits of my face chopped off at various times” – her words These aren’t the dramatic moles we’re told to watch for; they’re scaly patches, odd spots, things that just look… wrong.
The Reality Check We All Need
Jenny, working at Kew Gardens, nailed it: there’s a “tanning culture” among young horticulturists. Boot tans, sock lines – worn like badges of honour. It’s nonsensical when you consider that more than five sunburns in your lifetime doubles your melanoma risk.
Nearly nine in ten cases of melanoma are potentially preventable. And we need to be vigilant in order to avoid one of the most preventable cancers going.
So let’s ditch the “healthy glow” stuff. Your skin isn’t crying out for UV damage – it’s your largest organ, and it deserves better than being burned in the name of looking outdoorsy.
Listen to the full episode here – because sometimes the conversations that make us uncomfortable are the ones we need most.
