Melanoma: Skin cancer diagnosis at 18 was terrifying - I've had five moles removed since

A mum from Dundee, who had five cancerous moles removed, is urging people to apply sunscreen after new figures show almost half of Scots have sunburn at least once a year.

Laura Russell, from Broughty Ferry, said she was “terrified” when doctors diagnosed with her first melanoma at the age of 18.

“I had been told by doctors we don’t think this is anything, it should be fine we’re just taking it off as a precaution because of your family history so when it came back as a melanoma yeah it was terrifying,” the 40-year-old told STV News.

After an initial biopsy confirmed it was melanoma and it was removed with surgery, Ms Russell said she struggled with the scarring.

Scotland

Almost half of Scots suffer sunburn at least once a year, research finds

New research shows 32% of people in Scotland rarely or never apply sunscreen between May and September.

“Especially at that age it wasn’t easy it was on my calf so it was quite noticeable and quite an indent in my calf as well and the scar over the years has faded, but it wasn’t nice,” she said.

Ms Russell’s mum previously had surgery to remove melanoma, but never had a recurrence.

Ms Russell has had five moles removed all together but said she now looks at the scars as a sign that she’s okay now.

“It’s not a battle scar, but it’s a sign that I’m fine, it was removed and I’m ok,” she added.

“I’ve had genetic testing, but doctors haven’t been able to tell me why I’ve had so many, I think that would help me,” she said.

Ms Russell joined calls urging people to wear sunscreen, and raise awareness for skin cancer.

“If someone said to you could take a pill or put a cream on that would stop you getting lung cancer or breast cancer people would do it,” she said.

49% of people in the UK, and 45% in Scotland, suffer from sunburn at least once every year. batuhan toker via iStock

“It’s exactly the same. If you just put your sun cream on nine times out of ten you’re not going to go on and have skin cancer.”

It comes after research from charity Melanoma Focus revealed melanoma skin cancer rates continue to climb in the UK.

It found that 49% of people in the UK, and 45% in Scotland, suffer from sunburn at least once every year.

The research showed that 32% of people in Scotland rarely or never apply sunscreen between May and September which can lead to sun burn.

Melanoma Focus chief executive Susanna Daniels said: “This data is extremely concerning as we know that more than five sunburns in your lifetime doubles your risk of melanoma, so burning every year has potentially long-term dangerous consequences.”

There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year and it is the fifth most common cancer in the country.

The research came as sunny weather arrived in Scotland, bringing it’s hottest day of the year so far and signalling the incoming summer.

Dr Amy Perkins, dermatologist, said that although many will want to tan in the sun, and believe that a tan is healthy, it is not the case.

“Any change in skin colour whether it’s tanning or you’re going a little bit pink or a full on burn is skin damage and that is increasing your risk of skin cancer significantly,” she added.

“We’ve all been a bit burnt at some point in our lives…myself included but every single burn adds up. And we see skin damage before we change colour so wearing a factor fifty or at least a factor 30 is so important.”