Tracy Rider, 44, a mum-of-two from Sittingbourne, Kent, was diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) after a small bump on her collarbone was removed. Despite being sun-safe for over a decade, the cancerous tissue was found.
From a small pimple to a cancer diagnosis
In April, Tracy felt a small pimple on her chest while brushing her hand over her collarbone. It was barely visible but became itchy and grew a couple of millimetres. She visited her GP, who reassured her it was 'just a small cyst' and said it would go away on its own.
However, over the next week, the pimple became inflamed and scabbed. Tracy booked to see a different doctor, who referred her straight to dermatology. The pimple was removed and tested, revealing it was squamous-cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
Sun safety and past sunbed use
Tracy had not used a sunbed in 13 years and always wore suncream. She told Talk to the Press: "I remember sitting at home watching the telly and my hand brushed across my collarbone. I thought it was a spot so I tried to squeeze it, but when I did it was uncomfortable. It didn't feel like a spot."
She added: "The first doctor said it was just a cyst, but I didn't think that was right and I went back 10 days later because it had scabbed even though I hadn't touched it since. I hoped they would reassure me again that it was nothing to worry about, but I knew it was more sinister. In my teens and early 20s, everyone used sunbeds, including me, so the damage must have been done years ago."
Surgery and recovery
On May 13, a 4cm piece of skin was cut away from her collarbone, and she was stitched back up. The results confirmed SCC, but doctors had completely removed the cancerous tissue, so no further treatment was necessary. Tracy has been warned to be vigilant with any future spots, moles, and lumps.
Tracy said: "I've been told there's a high chance I can get another one, so if I see anything, I get an instant panic. I'm not a sunbed user now, I haven't used them in 13 years, and I always wear factor 30 in the sun."
She urged others: "It's not just about wearing sun cream on holiday too, in summer people should be wearing it every day, even if you're just pottering. It can cause damage in later life. If you think something isn't right, go and get it checked. And it's not just moles - mine wasn't a mole."
