Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NAOMI’S UV RAY WARNING PLEA AFTER CANCER FIGHT
Politician backing awareness campaign
NAOMI Long has urged people to be aware of the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and to take appropriate care in the sun.
The Alliance Party leader and East Belfast MLA spoke out five years after her malignant melanoma diagnosis.
The politician, who had surgery on her wrist to remove the skin cancer, is supporting a new Be UV Aware campaign, jointly launched by Cancer Focus NI and the Public Health Agency.
Mrs Long was diagnosed in April 2013 after noticing a mole on her wrist was bleeding.
She said: “I have a lot of moles and most are light coloured but the one on my wrist was dark and started out almost like two moles. One was slightly raised and the other was flat but over time they became one mole. I never even noticed them closing beside each other because of my watch.
“I noticed then one day the mole was scaly and flaky but I just put moisturiser on it. The mole continued to flake though.
“I was away on holidays in Cuba the February before I was diagnosed and it was very sunny.
“When I came home I noticed the mole was more prominent and at night time I could feel it, itchy and tingly.
“Then one morning in the shower I looked down and saw it was bleeding. I knew immediately what it was.”
Mrs Long added she had been careful in the sun as an adult, always wearing high factor sunscreens, a hat and long sleeves, but as a child and teenager she was unaware of the dangers.
She said: “People need to be aware the sun here in THE 150th Balmoral Show begins today with an exciting mix of farming, food and family fun on offer.
Northern Ireland’s largest event of its kind will return to Balmoral Park outside Lisburn and for the second time will run Northern Ireland can be strong enough to damage your skin and when the UV index is three or above they should take the necessary precautions – slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. In my case there’s a fourth ‘s’ for shade. I never sit in the sun now.”
Mrs Long had the mole removed and since then has undergone regular check-ups to ensure she remains cancer-free.
She added: “I was fortunate in that the doctors got my cancer early. If you have the slightest worry about a mole or a mark on your skin, get it checked out immediately. The sooner you catch it the more likely you are to survive.” for four days. More than
100,000 people are expected to attend to enjoy a jam-packed entertainment programme which will complement the numerous livestock classes scheduled.