Former Sunbed Operator Shares Skin Cancer Diagnosis, Urges Regular Checks
A young woman is sharing her story after being diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, attributing her risk to years spent working at a sunbed salon. Téa Cooley,now recovering from surgery,is speaking out to raise awareness about the dangers of sunbeds and the importance of regular skin self-exams.
Cooley recounts a work habitat where sunbed use felt normalized. “the maximum I would get was 12 minutes, and I wouldn’t use them that frequently. I was serving people who wanted 20 minutes, and others who would come in every day. I was in an environment where my usage didn’t seem so bad in comparison. I thought, ‘I’ll be fine’ and was normalising it. You truly believe it won’t happen to you,” she said. Her experience has fundamentally shifted her approach to sun protection and prompted her to advocate for proactive skin cancer screening.
The diagnosis came after Cooley noticed a change in a mole and was encouraged to get it checked by a TikTok video from another user sharing a similar experience.She is now urging others to be vigilant about their skin health and persistent with their doctors if they have concerns. “I have posted about my story on TikTok. It felt right,” she says. “The fact that I checked my mole as I saw someone else on TikTok encouraged me to put it out there. I’ve had so many messages from people that have reached out to me with their story.”
Cooley’s story underscores the well-established link between sunbed use and increased melanoma risk. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even one sunbed session can increase the risk of melanoma, and the risk increases with each use. She now consistently wears SPF all over her body, checks the UV index daily, and prioritizes sun safety even on vacation. “I had a holiday booked to Egypt before all of this, but I also went to Centre Parcs and I was more excited to go to Centre Parcs than I was for Egypt, as of the weather. But I went there and I was wearing SPF 50. You can’t live life avoiding the sun, which is what I kind of had to learn.”
She continues to encourage her friends, some of whom still use sunbeds, to monitor their skin closely. ”I still have some close friends who use sunbeds,and I really hope they can learn from my experience,” she continues. “If they want to continue getting them then that’s up to them, but I do warn to at least keep an eye on their moles.”
For facts and support on melanoma, visit Melanoma Charity for Professionals, Patients & Public or call the charity’s free and confidential helpline: 0808 801 0777.
