Hull skin cancer victim: "I wish I could turn back time"
Katie Miller was diagnosed with malignant melanoma last year. She's warning of the dangers of not applying sunscreen as 60% of young people are avoiding it for a better tan.
With 60% of youngsters avoiding sunscreen for a better tan - there are warnings today about the risks people are putting themselves under.
90% of 13 to 24-year-olds surveyed by Teenage Cancer Trust also said they've been sunburnt at least once.
25-year-old Katie Miller from Hull was diagnosed with skin cancer last year after returning from a holiday.
She admits she used to be more concerned about getting a tan than applying sunscreen - and wishes she could turn back the clock. She told Viking:
"Hearing the words malignant melanoma was terrifying. You never expect to hear that, especially at the age of just 24. I noticed a spot on my leg and I just thought it was nothing and it would be fine but then hearing those words, I don't remember what was said at the time I just remember hearing those words and being shocked and scared.
"When I went on holiday I would apply suncream but now looking back and what I've gone through I know it wasn't enough and it wasn't a high enough factor which is why I'm so passionate now about spreading the important message of applying sunscream and a high factor all the time.
"I used to think if I don't apply as much suncream then I might get a deeper tan which is silly looking back on now and if I could go back and change how I thought, then I would.
"If I could turn back time and speak to my younger self I would definitely say wear a high factor suncream, always re-apply and stay out of the sun when it is at its hottest too, between 11am and 3pm. Even when you are in the shade you can still catch the sun so just cover up and be more careful."
Luckily Katie was diagnosed early and treated before the cancer had a chance to spread, but still requires three-monthly check ups.
The Teenage Cancer Trust, has now launched a new campaign called 'Shunburn' in a bid to educate more young people about the dangers of too much sun exposure.
The charity says that despite years of education on the dangers of the sun, one in eight think you only need to apply sunscreen once a day, one in seven don’t think you need to apply sunscreen if you’re in the shade, while one in 13 believe you can’t burn on a cloudy day.