CRUK | SunSmart | Helen's story

Helen, from London, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, at the age of 22. She contacted us because she wanted to help more young people aware of the dangers of skin cancer.

As an air hostess, Helen would often sit in the sun when away with work and started using sunbeds in the hope she would have a tan all year round.

Sunbeds arent 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% Watch Helen's video, hear her story and learn why spotting skin cancer early is important.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• CR-UK
• Cancer Research UK
• CRUK
• Cancer Research
• Cancer
• Research
• Charity
• sunbeds
• skin cancer
• skin damage
• sunsmart
• london
• melanoma
• malignant melanoma

[DocBrewster]

Some minor disfigurement from scarring is NOTHING - many people die form melanoma skin cancer

[PhoebeBaBbEs]

I am scared of getting cancer, My dad had skin cancer and my mum has breast cancer, it is scary to think that i have more of chance of getting cancer than those who don't have parents that do :'( x SAY NO TO SUNBEDS xxxxxx

[DereksBuzzing]

I want to be an air steward and I wanna do sunbeds as soon as I hit 16! But after hearing Helens story I dont think i'll do sunbeds! Its not worth the risk!

[yazafara]

Ur so brave helen=may god always protect u and ur family and everyone else