UK Skin Cancer and Melanoma Patients

[lizzy]

Hi,

I was just wondering whether anyone on here happened to see a recent documentary on bb3 (I can't remember it's name) presented by the redheaded lady from Girls Aloud, investigating the effects of sunbed use? The part that attracted my attention was when she went to meet a young lady who was about to have her WLE done, and whilst talking to her surgeon, her surgeon pronounced 'the younger the patient is when they are diagnosed with melanoma, the more aggressive the cancer is'. Now I thought that was a rather sweeping statement.

I asked my dermatologist about this recently, and I couldn't get him to agree or disagree with this statement. I am not overtly worried, I was just surprised as I hadn't heard much about age being a substantial factor when it comes to a melanoma prognosis. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than myself has more information on this..? As my doc said, and I wholeheartedly agreed, such programmes aren't made for people like me so they may tend to go for a 'shock factor' to get younger people to realise the dangers, but then they can cause some unnecessary worry for the odd few!

I hope that everyone has had a nice weekend.

[sadsam]

Hi Lizzie

I watched it on Iplayer it was called The Truth about Tanning. I think they certainly did go for the shock factor and to be honest I think for sun bed users it may work, however, I think that the message that came across not just on this programme but on other programmes regarding MM or sunbed use is misleading and actually really annoys me. My sister had MM and never used a sunbed in her life, ok she liked sunbathing and having a tan but was always diligent when it came to applying sunscreen etc and what times of the day to avoid the sun. Interesting programme though and maybe worth a watch on Iplayer for those that want to see it.

Sam xxxx

[gilly]

I agree - the bmj article that Sean has on his site is fairly damming of the persisting view that MM is mainly due to tanning - we were told that the jury's out on whether MM should be lumped together with the commoner skin cancers - I also read somewhere (will try to find it) that though it is rarer amoungst dark/black skinned people they are more likely to get it on palms/soles of feet or inside the mouth - places which do not have much sun exposure. My husband is certainly not a person who sought tans and his primary leison was almost under his arm - not exactly where the sun shines often... I think melanoma would be taken more seriously if it were not "lumped" together with the other skin cancers - I am fed up with people saying "oh yes -melanoma skin cancer, they'll laser it off and thats an end to it".....

[jaqlyn]

I watched the documentary quite recently too on bbc3, a strange programme in that it had all come about because she was forced to fit in with her band mates and get a tanned look rather than be pale but ended by wrongly claiming that sunbed use would ultimately end in melanoma.

I half expected at some point through the film for her to reveal she had melanoma or at least knew someone with it but it seemed her aim was just to shock young people into not tanning so they could be pale like her and that being pale was acceptable. Anyone with half a brain knows being pale is of course accpetable but trying to convince young people that tans aren't sexy when all they see around them in the media are tanned beautiful bodies is a tough campaign. In the second half of the documentary is when she shows the WLE and lymph node removal, pretty shocking stuff but I felt it was unfair of her to link that to sunbed use and it did nothing but strengthen the misconception that melanoma is caused by sunbed use or over exposure to the sun.

I agree that young people need more advice regarding sunbeds and sun exposure but I doubt you can ever stop people wanting a tan, instead of asking them to think about having no tan..probably the way forward is to encourage safety in the sun and the use of fake tans etc

I just get angry when people ask me how I got malignant melanoma, have I used sunbeds, been abroad, been burnt as a kid. In fairness I think its through fear they ask because most people like to tan and go on holiday to the sun but you never hear anyone asking someone with breast cancer...how did you get it?

Malignant melanoma the cancer with blame attached..so unfair

[ally]

Hi Lizzie,
Good to hear from you again, hope you're ok.
I didn't see the programme, (on purpose - as the insinuation between tanning and melanoma raises my blood pressure ) - I dont know if it is a fact but when the melanoma made a reappearence with our daughter we were told the same thing. That because a younger person has a faster growth rate the cancer spreads faster making is seem more aggressive. Like I say - how true it is I dont know, but I do know it showed no respite in that instance.

[lizzy]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my post. I completely agree when it comes to the downright annoyance that it is somehow your 'own fault' that you have been diagnosed with melanoma, and that such a diagnosis subsequently means you must have spent your childhood and adolescence baking; unprotected, in the midday sun. I have come across (as I'm sure many others have) many nurses and GP's who have, upon automatically hearing a melanoma diagnosis, suggested I have spent too long in the sun and so have inflicted such a thing on myself. In all honest, some of the doctors I see at my 3 monthly check ups (I attend a clinic which is usually made up of a mixture of a consultant, some dermatologists, plastic surgeons and registrars) have suggested I 'spent too long in the sun as a child' or asked whether I 'grew up in a hot climate'.
It becomes worse then they appear not to believe me; that although I have fair skin and dark hair, I grew up in the 'sunny' climates of Britain and rarely holidayed abroad, only being 21, and working in a profession that means I see no daylight (!) I felt sun damage being the reason why I had melanoma a tad unfair!
Again, I agree that it is important that young people are made aware of the dangers of sun exposure; this can only be a positive thing. But I whole heartedly agree with the injustice (is that too strong a word..?) that comes with the association of a melanoma diagnosis. I'm sure we are not alone, there must be people who suffer with lung cancer who have never smoked a cigarette, or sufferers of liver cancer who have not drunk excessively, that feel the same way.
Ally, it is interesting to read what you were told about your daughter. Although I have not not posted much on this forum, I have followed everyone's stories regularly over the past two years, and I am truly sorry for your loss. I know this does not mean a huge amount as we do not know each other, but you; along with others on this site, are a true inspiration to others who are in need of comfort and information!
I apologise for the anti-social hours of my posts, I work rather odd hours...!

[twirliegirl]

I agree with the above posts especially as you can get melonoma on areas not exposed to the sun as i am now finding out!