Mum, 25, diagnosed with skin cancer after using sunbeds before holidays

A young mum has opened up about her skin cancer diagnosis, which she attributes to using sunbeds before jetting off on holiday.

Katie McVeigh, 25, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2022. Shocking new data from Melanoma Focus reveals that over a third of residents in one part of the UK admit to using sunbeds.

The study highlights the worryingly high usage of sunbeds across the country, with Belfast crowned as the 'sunbed capital' - 37% of adults in the city confess to using them. Following the release of these figures, Katie shared that she began using sunbeds at just 16 years old.

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"I used them before going on holiday because I liked getting a 'base-tan' and it became a bit of a habit," she confessed. "I was probably using them twice a week before I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer.

"I noticed a new mole on my face in 2022 so asked my GP about it, they referred me to a dermatologist and I ended up having it removed. I didn't think it was anything serious but a few weeks after the operation I was called in and told that I had melanoma.

"I don't remember much of the conversation but it was terrifying. I ended up having further surgery and then found out the cancer spread to my lymph nodes and I'm still having treatment now. It's been really hard and has caused me a lot of anxiety.

"I'm a single parent to a four year old and I'd do anything to survive for her. Tanning salons are everywhere in Belfast, it's quite scary when you think how dangerous they are."

Melanoma Focus and medical experts have raised the alarm over the widespread use of sunbeds and their link to the increasing skin cancer figures nationwide, reports BelfastLive. Melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer, claims the lives of 2,300 people in the UK annually.

The charity highlighted that melanoma skin cancer rates have soared by about a third in the UK over the past ten years. It's believed that sunbeds contribute to approximately 440 melanomas and cause roughly 100 deaths each year in the country.

Visits to tanning salons are frequent for UK sunbed users with 74% saying they use sunbeds at least once per month, and 53% using them at least once per week. This was higher in Northern Ireland at 78% and 63% respectively.

Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, said: "The proliferation of sunbed use across the UK is alarmingly high and it's shocking that so many people don't realise how dangerous they are. Melanoma skin cancer rates are rising in the UK and it's an increasingly serious health concern.

"The good news is that 86% of melanomas are preventable by avoiding ultraviolet radiation, which comes from the sun or from sunbeds. We strongly advise against using sunbeds in order to protect your skin and reduce your chances of being diagnosed with melanoma or other skin cancers."

Professor Catherine Harwood, Consultant Dermatologist and Melanoma Focus Trustee said: "We know that sunbed use is a significant risk factor for developing melanoma. Sunbeds emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which damages the DNA of skin cells leading to genetic mutations and other changes that can cause the growth of cancerous cells.

"It's very concerning that so many young people are regularly using sunbeds, unaware of the long-term consequences to their health. It is crucial that people understand the dangers of sunbed use and protect their skin from excessive UV radiation to reduce the risk of developing melanoma."