Alan's story - video transcript

Alan Storey - North Shields

In this country, it’s long dark winter nights so the first sign of sun people are going to go out in it.

[Footage of Alan as a child playing on the beach]

I used to get burnt from when I was a little child going to the local beach. Any weekend when it was sunny I was straight in the garden or down to the beach.

[Footage of Alan sunbathing in a deck chair on the beach as a young adult]

I never put any sunscreen on, I just laid there and got burnt.

[Footage of Alan sitting on the balcony on holiday]

When I first heard of skin cancer years ago, I just thought it’s a blemish on your skin and you just get it taken off at the local surgery. But obviously now I realise it’s a really serious condition.

[Footage of Alan’s scars post-surgery]

The lump was right on the top of my head which you couldn’t really see because I had a thick head of hair.

[Footage of Alan on holiday]

It was malignant melanoma, which I hadn’t even heard of and it was the most serious form of skin cancer. And I just thought, well I couldn’t get this.

[Footage of Alan’s scars post-surgery]

If they hadn’t caught it, the scenario was I wouldn’t be here now. I just thought it was in the top of my head, but when I was told by the consultant that it went down into my lymph nodes, he said “when it goes to your lymph nodes, it can spread anywhere” and I didn’t realise that, to me it was just a lump.

You must keep a check of any lump or bumps, or any discolouration of moles, or even skin, just be aware. I left it for about three or four weeks before I went.

I’ve got a grand-daughter, she’s called Lauren. She’s 2 years old.

[Footage of Alan putting sunscreen on Lauren ready to go outside]

We realise now, with her being sort of very fair skinned, that when she goes out in the sun or she’s often taken down onto the beach, she wears a hat and we protect her with sunscreen.

The last few years I’ve realised what I could have missed, especially with my grand-daughter being my first grand daughter and seeing her grow up.

[Footage of Alan and Lauren in the park]

Life feels good.

Finding skin cancer early saves lives

Find out more about the signs of skin cancer and how to reduce your risk - www.sunsmart.org.uk (The SunSmart campaign is funded by the UK Health Departments)