Helz Melanoma Blog

19/07/2025

18/07/2025

So true

‼ #1 SUNBEDS ARE SAFE:
Sunbed use is bad news at any age and dramatically increases the risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. They are classified as a group 1 carcinogen - the highest cancer risk category. AND the younger you are and more often you use them - the risk MASSIVELY INCREASES.

‼ #2 SUNBEDS ARE SAFER THAN THE SUN:
Sunbeds emit UVA at much higher intensities than the sun to make you tan quickly. UVA penetrates the skin at much deeper levels than UVB. Damage from UVA is cumulative, irreparable, causes cell damage and skin cancer - including melanoma which is one of the biggest killing cancers in the 15-34 age group.

‼ #3 SUNBEDS HELP PREPARE MY SKIN FOR THE SUN SO I DON’T BURN:
This is a common misconception, but put simply, all it does is add to the damage already done and if you intend to sunbathe, further damage you will do.

‼ #4 SUNBEDS BOOST MY VITAMIN D SUPPLY
UVB boosts vitamin D, NOT UVA. Any deficiencies, particularly in winter should be boosted safely with supplements and a healthy balanced diet.

‼ #5 A SUNBED TAN MAKES ME LOOK BETTER!
UVA is responsible for 80% of the visible signs of ageing - and as mentioned sunbeds emit much higher intensities of UVA than natural sunlight. The fact is, sunbed use will make you look MUCH older at a MUCH younger age.

‼ DON’T FORGET! Sunbeds are BANNED in some countries - they are illegal for use in the UK if you are under the age of 18 and MUCH MORE needs to be done to regulate this industry.

‼ DON’T BECOME A STATISTIC.
Many sunbed users have died from melanoma - this is not a coincidence.

‼ Please, if you use sunbeds STOP ‼

18/07/2025

Not being on treatment means your body is getting fitter again and you start doing things that you couldn't a few years ago and then you start say gardening or decorating really overdoing it then you end up crippled with pain and can hardly breath properly with the rib area pain, slowly over the week my pain has got worse it started in my lower back then hips and it's now across my whole torso so I'm back on morphine again to help but the side effects mean all I now do is sleep or be awake in horrible pain.. It's not fair why can't my life and body be normal 😞

03/06/2025

It's officially here my original oncologist has called me today and he has accepted me as his patient back at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham and their specialist melanoma department. Dr Grumett was my first oncologist and as he is also a lecturer in this field and a medical oncologist, I feel much safer back in his hands and as it's been probably around two and a half years maybe three since I last saw him he is really impressed and happy with how things are and my health. He said I would have no problem getting funding again for further treatment in the future or potentially trials. So we will be off treatment and monitored, He is writing to Russell's hall to ask the dermatologist to restart my skin checks which I should have done 3 times a year and haven't had one for over a year maybe two, he is also sending radiology a letter to state I will need cannula insertion under x-ray as my veins are no good for my ct scans going forward. It's a happy moment in really sad times

24/05/2025

Just sharing the latest news, the radiology unit at new cross finally got the cannula in a few weeks ago so I could have my ct scan as I missed the last one as Cannock couldn't get the cannula to work and after 45 minutes of trying they gave up after a few months of attending because I was told I was getting an ultrasound guided cannula insertion to find upon arrival it wasn't booked. But the best news is after begging to be moved back under my original oncologist who moved back to the Queen Elizabeth Birmingham I finally have an appointment with him, the reason I requested to be moved is because in 3 years of being stage 4 I have had 5 or 6 oncologists not all of these are melanoma specialists and non of them agree with what the other one says and the majority of times I was seeing an understudy who couldn't really answer questions about my care, fighting to get referrals because the oncologist doesn't do what they say they will so I decided to ask again to be moved and my wish was granted

05/05/2025

It's the way forward

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18/03/2025

All good news it certainly saved my life

Breakthrough: Trial offers miracle ‘cure’ for advanced melanoma

17/03/2025

Today is my first dose of infliximab, my cancer treatment caused ulcerative colitis it's not just diarrhea it's the pain and discomfort that comes along with it constantly running to the toilet getting up in the night to go. In a bad flare not leaving the house or wearing a nappy just in case, unable to pass wind for days sometimes, the special white food diet when in a flare. Sometimes not eating if I'm going out just in case.. the colon not working properly and being restricted is also no fun....it's a 💩

15/02/2025

Last year I found out that the harshness of the treatment had started rotting my teeth and making my gums shrink which caused toothache the only option was to remove the damaged teeth, I decided to ride the pain as long as I could. Last year I had my very first tooth extraction which was ok for my age as I had really looked after my teeth and had no fillings at all. A month ago I went to the dentist with horrendous toothache my back top teeth needed to be removed and I had broken one on the lower left so they said 9 were being removed, last Thursday I went in for the extraction they took 19 teeth out altogether and put dentures in 😞 . Cancer treatment is harsh it has hidden issues many don't see or know about we look fine on the outside

12/01/2025

I do apologise for being a little quiet but there really hasn't been much to update on bar my thyroid is not working properly and low vit D and calcium.
So I will post this video of my very last line care. My line is now out as of 9Jan 2025.

10/11/2024

I have just noticed that my page has been copied and they have changed the profile photo to ET, if you come across this page please send me a link as I have lost it not sure if I have been blocked and honestly don't know why you would replicate my blog 😕

29/09/2024

A friend of mine is making these grab them while you can £12 each perfect for kids Halloween gift message Lisa Rowley for orders