After being diagnosed with skin cancer earlier this year, following numerous hospital visits, a couple of surgeries and a lymph node biopsy, I’ve been told that it hasn’t spread and I am cancer free! The past five months have been some of the most emotionally and mentally challenging of my life, but I am fortune to have had incredible support from my family, friends and colleagues. I’m also thankful to the NHS for the impeccable (free!!) treatment I’ve received. We really cannot take them for granted. I’m about 90% recovered from my recent surgery but I’m feeling fine and ready for the summer ahead. I don’t usually post personal stuff like this on my feed, but I wanted to in this instance to stress the importance of getting yourself checked out. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, but when caught early enough there’s effective treatment and, like me, you can make a full recovery. If you have a mole that doesn’t look quite right, a lump that feels odd, or you’re consistently feeling like something is wrong, go see your GP! It’s what they’re there for. Sometimes we put stuff off because life is too busy, or you don’t want to make a fuss. Take that time to put your health first and go speak to a doctor. My first step towards diagnosis was an eConsultation that involved me sending this picture of my mole to my GP from my own living room. It can be that easy. I can’t begin to explain how lucky I feel having caught mine when I did - and now I get to live out the rest of my years bathing in factor 50.