I had to go and see a plastic surgeon, talk about skin grafts …. And being 20 or 21, you don't really think about that kind of stuff."
Megan Press, diagnosed with skin cancer at 21
Megan Press never imagined that a small mole on her foot would turn into a skin cancer diagnosis. Yet, at just 21 years old, she was diagnosed with Melanoma.
This is her story.
A country lifestyle
Megan Press, 25, grew up in the small, rural town of Condobolin, NSW. Her family are shearers so she’s very much a country girl at heart; like many Australians, she spent a lot of time outdoors.
While she was aware of the dangers of skin cancer, she admits to not fully understanding the importance of all five forms of sun protection… until one day, she noticed a suspicious looking mole on her foot.
"I was outside all day, every day, just running around with my dogs and putting my lambs outside."
While she was aware of the dangers of skin cancer, she admits to not fully understanding the importance of all five forms of sun protection… until one day, she noticed a suspicious looking mole on her foot.
“I noticed the mole was there, and within maybe a month or two I noticed it change”
Megan’s diagnosis
Concerned about the fact the mole had become darker in colour, Megan decided to take her sister with her to get a skin check on the mole. The doctor acted quicky and cut the mole out.
“It was very painful, but got it out of the way.”
She didn’t think much of it at the time, but then she got a call from the doctor.
“He called me in and he said, it's a melanoma in situ… It was just shock really… I kind of froze and looked at my sister and I just started bawling.”
‘It was a shock really, as I had no family history of it.”
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world
“I had to go and see a plastic surgeon, talk about skin grafts and that kind of thing. And being 20 or 21, you don't really think about that kind of stuff.”
2 in 3 Australians will receive a skin cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, with one Australian passing away every 6 hours. Melanoma is the second most common cancer in Australians aged 15-24.
At just 21, Megan had to face the harsh reality of a skin cancer diagnosis. “Skin cancer can move very fast, and I was very lucky to have caught it when I did,” she said.
A changed perspective
After her diagnosis she stayed inside a lot to avoid the sun. But eventually she realized she couldn't live her life like this.
“If I have those protective measures and just make sure I have the right sunscreen, have a hat on me at all times, I can still live my life.”
Megan has now been clear of melanoma for four years, but this experience has altered her perspective on suntanning forever.
She firmly believes that young people need to take their skin health seriously; and seeing them showing off their suntans, and not wearing protective clothing, hats, sunscreen or seeking shade makes her both worried and angry. For Megan, a suntan is not beautiful, it’s damage.
Megan has ongoing skin checks and understandably this can make her anxious at times, because she knows it could happen again. The idea that you can just cut it out and get on with your life is not true. However, she’s positive about her future. A wake up call like this means she feels empowered and knowledgeable in all areas of sun protection, and this has helped to alleviate her anxiety. Megan is passionate about spreading the word to peers and other young people to protect themselves from the sun and get regular skin checks.
If anything raised in this article has caused concerns for you, please know that you can call Cancer Council’s free and confidential information and support service on 13 11 20 to speak to their specially trained staff, who can offer practical and emotional support.