I started using sunbed when I was 16 and it almost killed me

A Newport mum of two says that it's "not worth it" when it comes to sunbeds after surviving skin cancer, not once, but twice. Emma Giannuzzi, 36, is urging people to ditch tanning beds and choose safer alternatives like fake tan.

The Rogerstone local began using sunbeds at 16, typically spending eight to ten minutes per session. Emma admitted that she would often left the sunbed burnt, yet was still allowed to continue. In some salons, she was even offered tanning accelerators - creams with no sun protection - while the risks were rarely, if ever, discussed.

"It just felt normal," she said. "Everyone I knew seemed to use sunbeds. It made me feel better about myself."

Throughout her late teens, Emma would often use the sunbeds before holidays, chasing what she believed was a "base tan." Now - while she cannot say for certain that sunbeds caused her cancer - Emma believes they were "likely a factor in me getting melanoma."

Emma gave up sunbeds in her early twenties after learning more about the dangers of UV exposure. But not long after, while applying sun cream at a party, she noticed what she thought was a smudge of chocolate on her stomach - it was actually a changing mole. She was diagnosed shortly afterward with 1A melanoma.

According to the NHS, melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in the cells responsible for producing pigment. It can spread to other parts of the body if not caught early. The main cause is ultraviolet light, from both the sun and tanning beds, with risk factors including pale skin, a high number of moles, family history of skin cancer and age. Stage 1 melanoma, like Emma's, means the cancer was detected early and confined to the skin, giving her a strong chance of successful treatment, which usually involves surgery.

Despite the early diagnosis, Emma says the emotional impact was heavy. "I'd assumed cancer was something that happened when you were older. I wasn’t emotionally equipped to deal with it," she said.

However, this wouldn't be Emma's last confrontation with the disease. Years later, things took a devastating turn during a routine check-up while she was pregnant with her second child. Doctors became concerned about another mole, which was confirmed as melanoma shortly after her baby was born.

"The thought that I'd had my baby growing while I had cancer was horrible," she said. "It felt different the second time because I had children relying on me to be alive. The thought that I've done that to myself made me feel so guilty."

Since her diagnoses, Emma has had 10 moles removed. Most have been non-cancerous, but she describes the wait for results as "horrific." 

Now, she avoids sunbeds completely and uses fake tanning products instead, calling them a much safer way to achieve the same confidence boost.

Reflecting on her experience, she adds: "It is really not worth it, that momentary feeling of 'oh yes, my skin looks lovely and tanned'. It doesn't last. It's literally a moment."

Skin cancer is easier to treat when found early so it's important to know what to look for. Think ABCDE. Take time to regularly check your skin and moles for these warning signs:

• Asymmetry - one half looks different to the other
• Border - Unusual or uneven borders
• Colour - Patches with more than one colour
• Diameter - Spots or moles larger than 6mm in diameter
• Evolution - Changes in shape or size over time

If something doesn't look right, get it checked by your GP. Recognising the signs of skin cancer could save your life.