FIVE years ago, all Natasha Illingworth’s life plans seemed in tatters when she was diagnosed with skin cancer.

Her mind had been on her career, getting married, making a home and having children. After the diagnosis, her thoughts were about simply staying alive – surviving melanoma.

But fast forward to today and Natasha is happily married to Nick, 36, with a home in Chessington and is mum to two beautiful children, Max, two, and baby Amelie.

Figures show around 1,200 people in London are diagnosed with melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – each year* – that’s three new cases every day. So Natasha is backing a campaign urging people to enjoy the sun safely this summer.

She has joined forces with Cancer Research UK and NIVEA Sun, offering advice on how people can protect their skin from the sun’s rays.

While UK skin cancer rates are rising**, up to 9 in 10 cases could be prevented by being safe in the sun and using a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen to avoid burning.

Natasha, now 28, had no family history of cancer and wasn’t a sun-worshipper. But in May 2016, she noticed a change in a mole on her back. She saw her GP and a dermatologist but no action was taken.

The mole continued to grow and darken and March 2017 she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma. She underwent surgery to remove the growth and two months later, following a lymph node biopsy, it was classified as stage 3.

At 23, she was very young to be diagnosed with skin cancer – it is more commonly found in older people.

Although Natasha has now been given the all clear, skin cancer is never far from her mind, particularly when it comes to protecting Max and Amelia.

She said: “It’s very uncomfortable to see people who aren’t protecting their skin or who post pictures of their sunburn. Max and Amelie’s skin is so sensitive so I’m very, very, careful.

“Amelie is too young to go in the sun but with Max, although he’s fair, he has much darker skin than me but I smother him in sun cream. I try to get him to wear a hat and keep him in the shade when the sun is at its strongest.

“And when the children go to our parents, or the childminder, they know my history so they are very good at always making sure Max has plenty of sun cream on.

“At first, after my diagnosis, I avoided ‘hot’ holidays. I’ve been on beach holidays since, but I’m just very careful now about looking after my skin,” she said.

Natasha, who works as a workforce information and planning team leader for the South East Coast Ambulance Service based in Crawley, said: “I count myself very lucky to be where I am today.

“When I was diagnosed, I met people online in a similar position to me who didn’t make it. I count my blessings every day – I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.

“I now have everything I dreamed of and I feel very grateful for that.

“I really want to spread the word about skin cancer prevention and early detection. It could make all the difference, so I always encourage people to be safe in the sun and see their GP if they notice any unusual changes to their skin.

“Sunburn doesn’t just happen abroad or on summer holidays. It can happen in the UK, even on a cloudy day. Everyone wants to make the most of the warm weather, but getting sunburned increases your chance of getting skin cancer – so it’s really important to take care.

“Those at higher risk include people with fair skin and hair, or light-coloured eyes, as well as people with lots of moles and freckles or a family history of skin cancer.

“I also want people to know:
“One – that skin cancer is more common in older people – but young people can get it too.
And two – that if it’s caught early, there is a good chance it can be successfully treated. People who have just been diagnosed need to know that.”

Taking three simple steps helps to minimise the risk of lasting damage to DNA in skin cells, which can lead to skin cancer.

Natasha said it’s easy as the 1,2,3 steps below, and is keen to underline the importance of the message.

Karis Betts, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, advises: “It’s important to remember the sun isn’t only strong abroad. It can be strong enough in the UK to burn between mid-March and mid-October and is strongest during the middle of the day, not when it’s hottest.

“Avoid getting caught out by checking the UV index on the weather forecast or online. If it’s 3 or above, it’s time to think about sun safety – especially if you have light or fair-coloured skin or burn easily.

“Whether you’re abroad, having a staycation or just out-and about, remember the three-step method to enjoy warm weather safely – seek shade, cover up and regularly apply sunscreen.”

Cancer Research UK and NIVEA Sun are celebrating 10 years in partnership having raised millions for vital skin cancer research. Their top tips for staying safe in the sun are:

1.Seek shade between 11am-3pm in the UK

2. Cover up with clothing – wear a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses

3. Apply sunscreen regularly and generously – use one with at least SPF 15 and 4 or more stars

For more information and tips, visit cruk.org/sunsafety.