Beware danger of too much time in the sun.

Byline: HELEN RAES 

ANORTH East woman is hoping to warn others of the dangers of sun abuse following her own battle against skin cancer.

Michelle Grimmer, 37, from Jarrow, has relived her fight against cancer in a bid to get people to think twice before heading into the sun.

An avid sunbed user from the age of 18, the now married mum-of-two, simply wasn't aware of the damage she was causing her skin throughout her late teens and 20s.

She said: "Twenty years ago there wasn't as much awareness of skin cancer.

"I loved the sun and like a lot of people, wanted a sun tan so I would stay in the sun all day or use sunbeds and thought that was fine.

"I wouldn't have said that I am particularly fair or one of those people that would be at risk of the disease. I never thought that I would get skin cancer." During a day-out in 2007 with her two daughters and a friend to Haggerston Castle in Northumberland, she noticed that a mole on her side had changed colour.

Not thinking that it was serious, Michelle made an appointment to see her GP and was immediately referred to see a dermatologist at South Tyneside District Hospital.

A biopsy of the mole was taken and she was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in February 2007.

Michelle then immediately underwent an operation at the University Hospital of Durham and two years later, still receives regular 12-week check-ups with the Cancer Care Team at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and attends a Cancer Connections group to help others by sharing her experiences.

"When I found out it was cancer I was in total shock.

"Up to the time I was diagnosed I was still using sunbeds and I didn't understand how the skin cancer grew in such a strange place, as it's an area of my body that was not generally exposed to the sun.

"The care I received was fantastic at both South Tyneside and Durham - thankfully we caught the cancer early and it had not spread but it's something that I have to live with every day and you do worry that it might come back again." Malignant melanoma, the potentially fatal form of skin cancer, is now the most common cancer in people aged between 15 and 34.

Michelle added: "You can so easily get brown from a bottle these days, there is just no point in risking skin cancer by using sunbeds or not protecting yourself in the sun.

"When you are young, you just don't think that a few sessions a week on the beds or lying out in your back garden the odd day in the British summer could have such a damaging effect - but this is when the damage is done." Her care was led by the cancer services team at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, as part of North of England Cancer Network.

Lead Nurse Cancer Specialist, Karen Pattison, said: "Michelle is an exceptional individual and is selflessly giving her time to try and help others.

"Hopefully, by listening to Michelle's story and taking notice of the information on offer, some people may reconsider their attitudes to sunbathing here and on holiday." Karen says that knowing your own skin type and the correct skin protection to use when in the sun would dramatically reduce the risk of skin cancer.

"The most common cancer in women aged 20 to 29 is malignant melanoma," she explained.

"This can be attributed to exposure to the sun at a young age, use of sunbeds, not using the right protection factor - even a one-off bad sunburn can significantly increase your chances of being diagnosed with the disease.

"We are told that we are in for a hot summer this year in the UK.

"What many people don't realise is that short, sharp exposure to the sun in this country can be really damaging to your skin cells.

"People can sometimes find it hard to believe that the sun in South

Shields can be as dangerous as the sun in St Tropez and health warnings about the danger of skin cancer are not getting through to them.

"Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and the number of people who develop it is increasing.

"In the UK, there are more deaths caused by the most aggressive form of skin cancer malignant melanoma, than in Australia.

"Most people know that excessive sun exposure and sunbeds significantly increase the risk of skin cancer but don't think it can happen to them and that's a dangerous attitude to take." Karen is urging anyone that has noticed a mole which has changed colour, shape or size to go straight to see their doctor.

She added: "Many people have moles on their skin that will remain totally harmless all of their lives.

But if a mole starts to change in colour, shape and size over a period of weeks it should be reviewed by your doctor.

"You need to know your own skin type and it is a good idea to be aware of the moles on your body.

"Prevention is better than cure.

The Australians have a great campaign called the 'Slip, Slap, Slop' campaign - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. And in the UK the message is the same whether enjoying the British summer or holidaying abroad.

"Stay in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm; make sure you never burn; always cover up, wearing a hat T-shirt and glasses; remember to take extra care with children; use a factor 15+ sunscreen all the time and avoid getting burned." 'Mole Mapping' services are now available so that people can have moles catalogued by specialist photographers to get a complete picture which is then used for skin surveillance.

Looking to the future, Michelle feels that one positive has come out of her experience.

She added: "I have two young daughters, Lauren, nine, and Holly, seven, that are now really educated when it comes to this topic. My experience has put this on the radar for my family and friends which will help them to make the right decisions about their skin care.

"My family and I are all looking forward to a holiday in Canada later this year and it's really the first time I have been out buying long-sleeved caftans, tops and trousers for the trip" Michelle works full-time as an Extended Services Co-ordinator for South Tyneside Council.

Working with schools to develop after-school clubs and extracurricular activities, she has also found the time to juggle her career with her home life and boost her academic credentials.

She is in the final year of a threeyear degree in a BA Hons in Community and Use Studies at the University of Sunderland.

South Tyneside is a Cancer Unit within the North of England Cancer Network.

Some cancer patients from South Tyneside will be referred to other Cancer Units or Centre's within the Network for Treatment.

The cancer team also works closely with community services, local GPs and voluntary organisations.

For further information about Cancer Services contact the secretary for the cancer lead team on [phone] ext 2314..

Skin Cancer - the facts