A woman identified as Ellie Shaw has opened up about her battle with skin cancer after doctors discovered melanoma in a suspicious mole on her body.
Ellie revealed that she had become heavily dependent on sunbeds, spending about 15 minutes tanning every day for three years despite knowing that excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation could damage her skin.
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She said her desire to maintain a tan made her ignore the possible consequences.
“I was very addicted to sunbeds.
“I knew the risks but I ignored them because sunbeds made me feel good.
“I’m very pale naturally so I wanted a nice tan and to feel better about myself.
“I noticed the mole on my back, darker than my others, in early 2025.
“I knew something wasn’t right so I booked a doctors appointment straight away.”
Doctors Initially Said the Mole Was Nothing to Worry About
According to Ellie, she initially sought medical advice after noticing that the mole looked different from the others on her skin.
She was initially reassured that there was nothing to be concerned about. However, after noticing a scab developing over the mole, she decided to return to the doctor.
“I went back to the doctor and they said they weren’t concerned but they referred me to get it removed.
“I wanted the mole off my body.
“I went to the clinic to get it removed and they were trying to convince me not to have it removed because it would leave me with a scar.
“I asked them to take it off and a month later they said it was melanoma.
“I was in shock.”
Ellie was eventually diagnosed with stage 1A melanoma, an early form of skin cancer that is confined to the skin and is highly treatable when detected at this stage.
She said doctors later explained that delaying the removal could have resulted in a much more serious situation.
“I thought I wasn’t going to make the next two years of my life.
“I was so lucky because it was stage 1A.
“The doctor said if I’d left it any longer then it would have been a different story and they could have been telling me I had two years left to live.
“Once it goes past stage 1, it starts spreading across your body and it will kill you.
“I’m so blessed I’ve got another chance.”
Ellie Undergoes Further Surgery
After the melanoma was discovered, Ellie underwent another operation to remove a larger area of tissue around where the mole had been. The procedure was carried out to ensure that any remaining cancerous cells were removed.
She said the experience has left her with a permanent scar and a strong sense of regret over her previous use of sunbeds.
“I’ve got a fat scar on my shoulder.
“It’s never-ending because once you’ve been on the sunbeds, the damage is done.
“I really regret using them.
“If I could talk to my 19-year-old self, I’d warn her how dangerous they are and tell her not to use them.
“It’s not worth the risk.
“I’m so careful when I’m out in the sun now and still have skin checks.
“I think they should be banned and I want people to think before they start using sunbeds.
“People don’t realise how dangerous they are.”
She Urges Others Not to Ignore Changes on Their Skin
Ellie now regularly checks her skin and has encouraged other people to pay attention to changes in moles or other unusual marks.
Looking back, she believes listening to her instincts and insisting on having the mole removed may have played an important role in detecting the cancer early.
“If you ever have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, don’t ignore it.
“I’m so grateful I didn’t listen when they tried to persuade me not to have the mole removed.
“I actually don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn’t trusted myself.
“Going with your gut feeling could save your life.”
