From Finding a Small ‘Blood Blister’ to an Advanced Stage Melanoma Diagnosis; An English Fitness Instructor, 46, Says ‘No More Tanning Beds’

Luckily, the mom of four’s friend insisted that she go to the doctor when she found the bump, and it turned out out to be cancer. Notley had it removed but it came back on another part of her arm, signifying that it had already started to spread. She shared her story with Leeds Live, her local outlet.

“If you're thinking about using sunbeds, please read this and think again,” Notley wrote in a Facebook post. “I don't have many regrets in life, but this is a huge one. And, if you're concerned about any lumps and bumps, please go see your doctor.”

The article reveals that Notley is taking part in a clinical trial for a new drug after she kept getting more lumps on her arm. “I had it removed in 2018, got the all clear, got drunk and celebrated and didn’t think any more of it,” she said.

Then she found another lump. And another. “I could see a lot more tumors growing in my arm and after the final lot of surgery, my doctors said it wasn’t working,” she said.

Right now, the disease is stage 3 and is confined to her arm. She has regular scans to monitor the activity.

Notley has been sharing her story to raise awareness and to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. She just received credentials to help other cancer patients with their health and fitness. “Keeping fit can improve your chances,” the health-enthusiast said. She has even been cycling for the cause.

“There’s a huge grey area with cancer – people think you either live or die but there’s people like me who are living with it and managing it and I don’t think that is spoken about enough.”

Tanning and Melanoma Risk

In general, not only should you be protecting yourself from the sun, but you should also definitely stay away from tanning beds. Instead opt for sunless tanning products or organic spray tans if you’re in need of a healthy glow.

Related: Gay Men Get More Skin Cancer The Perils of Tanning Bed Culture

“We know there is a direct correlation with [melanoma] patients who go to indoor tanning salons,” Dr. Anna Pavlick from NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center tells SurvivorNet, who notes that the exposure “is about 6 inches from your body.”

On a beach, the sun is millions of miles away, “so you have to think of the intensity that you’re exposing your skin to when you go to a tanning salon,” she says.

Bottom line, tanning beds increase your chances of melanoma “exponentially.”

Tanning Salons Pose a Big Risk of Melanoma

Not so fast, sun. The star that lights up our world is the bigger culprit overall; it’s just that tanning beds tend to speed up the process by blasting you more intensely. But the years of sun exposure all add up. In fact, around ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. All it takes is one severe burn. So if you’ve had more than you can count, it’s time to start protecting yourself as much as possible.

Related: Some Melanoma Survivors See Long-Term Side Effects After Immunotherapy Treatment, According to New Study

"Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body," explains Dr. Pavlick. Melanoma can develop from an existing mole or it can appear as a dark or pink growth on the skinand it can appear in places that were never exposed to the sun, “such as the sinuses, the back of the eye, the anal/rectal area” and other areas.

Related: Blood Test Could Predict the Best Type of Treatment for Metastatic Melanoma

Be sure to get your skin checked out by a dermatologist, who will determine whether you should go in for annual, or bi-annual, check-ups, depending on your level of sun exposure and amount of freckles and moles on your body.

The Sun is Not Your Friend Most Melanomas are Caused by Sun Exposure

 

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