Mum, 24, gets skin cancer diagnosis following sunbed sessions prior to holidays
Over a third of people in Belfast report using sunbeds, according to the charity Melanoma Focus
A mother in Belfast has spoken about receiving a diagnosis of skin cancer after she got into the habit of using sunbeds before holidays.
Katie McVeigh, 24, was diagnosed with melanoma - a cancer that affects the cells which make melanin in skin - in 2022, Belfast Live reports.
According to research by the charity Melanoma Focus, sunbed use is alarmingly high across the UK, with over one third of people in Belfast alone admitting to using them.
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Katie said that she began availing of sunbeds at the age of 16 as a "habit" and described the horrifying moment she discovered she had melanoma.
"I used them before going on holiday because I liked getting a 'base-tan' and it became a bit of a habit.
"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."
She continued: "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, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills an average of 159 people in Ireland every year, and 2,300 in the UK annually. Melanoma Focus says that, over the last decade, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by around a third in the UK.
It is estimated that, across the UK, sunbeds cause about 440 melanomas and around 100 deaths each year. In Northern Ireland, skin cancer rates have trebled in the last 25 years and there are now 390 new cases every year.
The charity's new research found that public awareness of the dangers of sunbed use is low with only 62 per cent of people in the UK (and 59 per cent of those in Northern Ireland) knowing that sunbed use increases the risk of skin cancer. This dropped to 52 per cent of 18-25 year olds, 23 per cent of whom believe that sunbed use actually decreases the risk of skin cancer.
Around the UK, 74 per cent of people report using sunbeds at least once per month, while 53 per cent use them at least once per week. This was higher in Northern Ireland at 78 per cent and 63 per cent 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 per cent 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."
More information on melanoma is available on the HSE website.
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