Spot skin cancer early

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and the number of people who develop it is increasing. Over 2,600 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK. The good news is that if the signs and symptoms of skin cancer are  spotted early it's easier to treat and the chances of survival are higher.

Sara's story

Sara from Northampton was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, at the age of 32.

She regularly used sunbeds between the ages of 17 and 27, and would frequently get sunburn on holiday, staying out in the sun as long as possible.

 Sunbeds aren't a safe alternative to tanning outdoors. Like the sun, sunbeds give out harmful UV rays which damage the DNA in our skin cells and can cause  skin cancer.

Using sunbeds before the age of 35 increases your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75%.

Don't let  sunburn catch you out and enjoy the sun safely using shade, clothing and sunscreen of factor 15 or higher to protect yourself from sunburn. Getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of the most serious type of skin cancer.

Watch Sara's video, hear her story and learn why spotting skin cancer early is important

View a  transcript of Sara's film