A young woman who used sunbeds every week to help clear up eczema was devastated when she was diagnosed with skin cancer.
Alexandra Poole is now warning other people to stop using sunbeds after doctors confirmed she had stage 1 Melanoma.
The 30-year-old from Stoke-On-Trent, had surgery last month and says she is lucky to be alive after booking 17 minute sessions every week for two years.
Whilst using sunbeds regularly, Alexandra noticed a change to a mole under her nipple, but admits it took her nearly 12 months to visit her GP.
Alexandra, a marketing manager, told Need To Know that she had suffered with severe eczema for years and despite trying hundreds of creams, using sunbeds was the most effective way to calm her skin.
She said: “I tried every remedy for eczema, but sunbeds really helped.
“I would use sunbeds for 18 minutes every week. I never used tanning creams because of my sensitive skin, but as I tanned I did feel better in myself and I understand why people feel confident after using them and pressured to have a sun-kissed glow.”
Alexandra, who is naturally very pale skinned with blonde hair, enjoyed having a ‘bit of colour’ to her complexion but never imagined she would be diagnosed with skin cancer at 30.
She said: “I knew the risks, but I told myself, ‘it won’t happen to me’ but it did.
“I’m not usually one for talking about my personal life, but I needed to speak out in the hope that it stops other young women risking their life for a tan.
“I’ve shared this unflattering image of me in a hospital gown because I want people to know that using sunbeds isn’t harmless.”
In February, Alexandra finally booked a doctor’s appointment to have a mole checked.
She said: “I was aware of changes to my mole for far too long before I got it checked out.
“I noticed it was getting darker and bigger. I do have quite a few moles and freckles, but this one was brown and misshapen. It was different to the others.”
When her doctor saw the mole, she was referred immediately to a dermatology clinic for tests.
After that things moved quickly.
On February 27th, Alexandra was given the option to have the mole on her breast removed or have tests done.
She explains: “I decided to have it removed. I wasn’t overly worried but thought it was better to be safe than sorry and I was booked for surgery on March 13th.
“At this stage I thought it was probably benign. I had skin taken away and sent off for tests. After around 6 weeks, I hadn’t heard anything so I thought everything must be ok.”
But when Alexandra saw a hospital letter on her doormat, she immediately thought ‘it’s cancer’.
Just days later, doctors confirmed Alexandra did have skin cancer.
She said: “I was very overwhelmed. Cancer is not a not a word you expect to hear when you’re 30.
“I was told I would need a second surgery, a wide excision biopsy’ which was booked for just 5 days later on April 30th and removed 1cm of skin around where the mole was.”
Alexandra has since been told that her results from the biopsy were clear.
She said: “I have been told that the cancer has been removed and the extra skin they took in the wide excision biopsy was all healthy.
She added: “I need to go for regular check ups over the next year and it’s been a whirlwind few months, but I realise how lucky I am that it was caught in the early stages because I left it so long and was using sunbeds so often.
It could have been a very different outcome.
“Being told I have Cancer, was terrifying and reality hit very quick and very hard.
“My actions and lifestyle choices caused this and could have killed me.”
Alexandra hopes by sharing her story, other people will reconsider using sunbeds.
She said: “I won’t ever go on a sunbed again. My diagnosis has been a real wakeup call and I’m never going to take my skin or health for granted again.
“The two surgeries have changed the shape of my breast, it is quite uneven and that’s hard to process, so please ladies be happy with the skin you’re in and look after it.
“Pale is beautiful too, so please be kind to your skin and get your moles checked out.
“Don’t ever underestimate the damage a sunbed can do to your health, even if you’re only using them once a week.”
Following her diagnosis, Alexandra is now looking forward to her future.
She is busy planning a trip for later this year, but will be packing sunscreen block and cover ups.
She said: “I am going to take some time away from work and my first stop is Malaysia.
“On previous holidays I loved sitting in the sun, but now I am very aware of the measures I have to take now to keep my skin safe.
“I got a cancer diagnosis just a few weeks ago, but that’s made me realise that life is too short and I am lucky to be alive.”
READ MORE: ‘I’m a top paediatrician – here’s what you DON’T know about keeping kids safe in the sun’
