Sunbed Addiction: A Deadly Tan

A Co Down mum is highlighting the risks associated with sunbed use, after learning she had incurable cancer at the age of 45.

Addiction to Bronze: Allison Coates, from Bangor, went to the doctor in 2017 with a mole on her back which had become itchy. She had a biopsy which found that she had melanoma. A couple of years later, Allison found a lump under her arm and it was discovered that the melanoma had returned and spread. And in another devastating blow, last Christmas she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in her breast and has been told the cancer is incurable.

Raise Awareness: New data released today by the charity Melanoma Focus has shown that 24% of people in Northern Ireland are using sunbeds at least once per year and 20% at least once per month. Allison has decided to share her journey, to raise awareness and to highlight the dangers associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.