Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has spoken out this week about her recent diagnosis with skin cancer.
The 58-year-old singer said that her sister Maureen, would often point at a “tiny bit of skin” on her shoulder that was a “bit red," and she decided to get it looked at by her doctor.
She said her immediate instinct was to "laugh" upon hearing the news that she had a common skin cancer basal cell carcinoma.
Read more: Coleen Nolan opens up about undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with cancer
Speaking on Loose Women, she said: “My first instinct, typical me, was to laugh hysterically because I just thought that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard anybody say.
“I’m sick of cancer and also, my first instinct was, I’m not telling anybody in my family because this that I’ve got at the moment seems nothing compared to what my sisters have been though."
Coleen has already seen several of her sisters diagnosed with cancer.
Anne, Linda and Bernie, have each had to battle cancer on a number of occasions. Linda is currently diagnosed with brain cancer.
Unfortunately, Bernie died from the disease in 2013 aged just 52.
"Very proud of my little sis. She acted on her instincts, found something amiss and got it checked," Linda said of Coleen's diagnosis. "If you spot something out of the ordinary for you, PLEASE get it checked. Don’t be frightened."
With Coleen sharing her diagnosis publicly, many people will now think twice about ignoring a changeable mole or mark on their skin.
According to the HSE, a melanoma is caused by skin cells that begin to develop abnormally.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sun bed exposure is thought to cause most melanoma.
Certain things can increase your chances of developing melanoma, such as having:
- lots of moles or freckles
- pale skin that burns easily
- red or blonde hair
- a close family member who's had melanoma
The type of sun exposure that causes melanoma is sudden intense exposure – for example, while on holiday, which leads to sunburn.
The HSE advises to see a GP for any changes to moles that you are concerned about.
if they think you have melanoma they'll refer you to a pigmented lesion clinic, and there are a number of these across Ireland.
"In most cases, a suspicious mole will be surgically removed and closely examined to see whether it's cancerous. This is known as a biopsy. A biopsy usually involves removing a small tissue sample. However, in cases of melanoma, the whole thing is usually removed from the beginning."
"You may also have a test to check if melanoma has spread to the lymph glands (nodes). This is known as a sentinel node biopsy," says the HSE.
The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.
It is less common to see melanoma on areas that are not exposed to the sun frequently, such as the buttocks or the scalp.
For men, the most common location is on the back, while for women it is on the legs.
"In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed. Look out for a mole which changes progressively in shape, size and/or colour."
There is an ABCDE checklist that can help you identify if a mole may be problematic.
The list includes looking at:
Asymmetry
Melanomas are asymmetrical, often having an irregular shape and clear differences in shape and texture.
Border
A wavering, notched border is a sign. Regular moles tend to have a smooth rounded border.
Colour
A change in colour should be made note of. Melanomas will often be comprised of different colours and darker patches.
Diameter
Melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter.
Evolving
A mole that changes in size, or shape over time, is more likely to be a melanoma. It can also become raised over the surface of the skin.
The main treatment for melanoma is surgery.
You can reduce your chances of developing it by avoiding getting sunburned. Wear suncream all year round, and be particularly diligent with wearing a high factor, like Factor 50, in the summer or while on holidays.
Sun beds and sunlamps should always be avoided.
You can find more information from the HSE HERE.
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