Having regular skin checks has been a lifesaver for 28 year-old Danielle King from Auckland. 
Danielle, who has Irish heritage and fair skin, started having regular skin checks with a specialist when she was 22 years old. There was no family history of melanoma (though an aunt has recently been diagnosed with melanoma) but television advertising warning about skin cancer made Danielle aware her fair skin put her at higher risk.
“Summers were baking hot when I was growing up and it took a few really bad burns to make me understand my skin just doesn’t tan. Tanned skin was seen as more attractive, and it took me a while to embrace my fair skin colour. Plus, I now realise that all tanning is damaging your DNA, no matter what your complexion. At some point the cerebral cortex kicked in.”
A few years ago, Danielle noticed a new mole on her back which was monitored by her specialist during her regular checks.
“At first, it seemed harmless and it looked healthy. Life got busy, and I ended up delaying my last check by a few months due to travel and rising living costs.”
During that later specialist visit, her doctor pointed out that the mole had developed some suspicious features and recommended a biopsy.
“Even though I was a bit stunned, I followed her advice right away. When the results came back, it was a mix of shock and relief. The biopsy showed melanoma in situ; the mole had become melanoma.” Danielle was relieved the melanoma was picked up at an early stage and that surgery has removed all the melanoma.
“I was 28 and had melanoma, but I was going to be okay. I had another small surgery to remove any remaining melanoma, and now I’m all good.”
Danielle is passionate about encouraging education and early detection so that more people can avoid invasive surgery. She says many people don’t understand the complexity of melanoma treatment and think it’s simply a matter of having a bad mole removed.
“I have a scar on my back but it could have been a lot worse.” Anxiety may prevent some people seeking skin checks and Danielle says having regular skin checks did cause her some stress – but it’s important to overcome that.
“Now I am thanking my future self that I had those checks and got that early diagnosis. That’s what I tell young people – your future self will thank you. I am truly grateful for the life-saving technology and specialists who ultimately saved my life.” She describes herself as the “skin cancer advocate friend” – the person who raises awareness about the need to be smart in the sun.
“I have always been the friend sitting in the shade at the beach under an umbrella and covered with a towel and sunscreen. Taking all those precautions didn’t make me immune to melanoma, but it gave me a success story against the deadliest skin cancer.”
“I want to share my story so that more people, especially young people, act on their intention to get their skin checked,” she says.