Tyla

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Mum Diagnosed With Skin Cancer At 25 After Boosting Tan With Sunbeds

Lucy Devine

Published 
| Last updated 

Mum Diagnosed With Skin Cancer At 25 After Boosting Tan With Sunbeds

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media

A mum is issuing a warning to sunbed users, after she was diagnosed with skin cancer.

Paris Tippett, 25, from Berkshire, used sunbeds on and off from the age of 18, but started going twice-weekly for up to 14 minutes a session last year.

Paris was diagnosed with skin cancer after using sunbeds (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)
Paris was diagnosed with skin cancer after using sunbeds (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)

But after four months of regular sessions, Paris noticed a tiny freckle on her right shin while moisturising her legs.

Advert

The mum went to her GP and was referred to a specialist who removed the freckle and sent it for testing.

Two weeks later she was given the devastating news that it was cancerous and she had stage-two melanoma.

"I first started using sunbeds when I was 18 as I wanted to try them," said Paris.

"From then I've just gone in and out of using them in my life. I haven't used them solidly every week of my life, I tend to use them just before I go on holiday or for summer.

Advert
Paris noticed a tiny freckle on her leg (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)
Paris noticed a tiny freckle on her leg (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)

"They also make me feel a bit better. Sometimes when I've been feeling a bit down in the past, I get SAD [seasonal affective disorder] and it has made me feel like it's helping me.

"When the doctor told me it was melanoma, a vicious one, I just sat there and was beside myself. I just cried and said 'is this terminal?'

"I was using sunbeds more so in between lockdowns because I didn't know when I was going to be able to get a sunbed again.

Advert

"From last summer I upped it to two [sessions] a week, sometimes three for 12-14 minutes a time over the course of four months, and that's when a little freckle on my shin came up that winter."

Paris says doctors were not initially worried (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)
Paris says doctors were not initially worried (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)

Paris explained when she first noticed the freckle, she decided to keep an eye on it, and continued to use sunbeds with a plaster over it.

At first, Paris says doctors weren't concerned, but because it was new, it could be removed if Paris wanted.

Advert

"She said that because it was new and I didn't feel comfortable with it, it could be removed if I wanted," Paris explained.

"I know my body and I just got that feeling and I knew something just wasn't right. I had it removed in July and then I got my results back two weeks after that.

"I was a little bit apprehensive about getting it removed, but it was better than leaving it. Waiting a couple of weeks for the results to come back was just hell.

"I wasn't myself, I was all over the place. I couldn't focus on work, I couldn't concentrate at the gym - I would just go and sit there, I couldn't focus.

Advert

"I was just so worried. I was so petrified when I got the results, it was like I'd been put in someone else's life. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

Paris underwent surgery after the diagnosis (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)
Paris underwent surgery after the diagnosis (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)

After the shocking diagnosis, Paris had a second surgery to remove lymph nodes and a wider section of tissue - to ensure the cancer hadn't spread further.

"Stage two melanoma is a fast-spreading cancer. It's all about time with melanoma, if you catch it fast you're lucky," she said.

"This mole was probably only on my body for six months and I had to go through what I had to go through and that was really lucky.

"Whereas if it had been there for years it could have spread to my lungs, it might have got in my blood, you just don't know. I'm so thankful I did listen to my body and got it removed.

"Three weeks later [after the diagnosis] I had surgery, it was a really difficult time. I had days I didn't even want to be here - really, really low days when I thought I couldn't cope.

The mum says getting the all clear was like 'winning the lottery' (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)
The mum says getting the all clear was like 'winning the lottery' (Credit: Kennedy News and Media)

"They removed lymph nodes from my right groin and removed quite a wide area, going down to the bone in my shin, to make sure it hadn't spread."

After hearing her results were all clear four weeks later on September 23rd, Paris described it as being like 'winning the lottery'.

"When they said I was all clear it was priceless, it felt like I'd won the lottery, you can't put a price on it," she said.

Now, Paris will have regular check-ups with her dermatologist and surgeon and has vowed to never go on sunbeds again.

"I couldn't believe that sunbeds could do this. I'll never get on one ever again, it's not worth it," she added.

"The thing with melanoma is you don't know you've got it, it's a silent killer. It doesn't show necessarily in a mole - it can be a patch of skin, uneven patch of skin.

"I would say to anyone who is thinking of using sunbeds to invest in an amazing tan - there are some amazing tans out there.

"It'll be fake tan only from now on."

Topics: Health, Life

Lucy Devine
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

Amy Winehouse fans all make the same point after first clip from biopic is released

30 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

NHS advice on pulling out ingrown hairs after father is given 4% chance of survival

2 days ago