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'The sun is lethal - it caused my face tumour'

Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Suffolk
Contributed Nicola Smart smiles at the camera in a selfie-style image. She has straight blonde hair. A kitchen can be seen behind her.Contributed
Nicola Smart is urging people to be careful in the sun after she has spent years undergoing skin cancer treatment

Growing up in Africa, Nicola Smart enjoyed countless hours surfboarding and lifeguarding under the intense sunshine.

Unfortunately, the exposure to the sun would later lead her to a skin cancer diagnosis.

While it was a non-life-threatening type, Mrs Smart, now 54, and living in Copdock near Ipswich, has undergone years of cryotherapy treatment, biopsies and body maps to ensure the cancer does not spread.

In recent months, doctors found a tumour just above her lip after she noticed a dry sore, and it was removed.

Mrs Smart is encouraging everyone to be careful in the sun for May's skin cancer awareness month.

"Living the African life, I was a lifeguard, I was a surfer, I was a boogieboarder, I did the whole lot," Mrs Smart explained. "I got burnt loads."

Mrs Smart was diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer - a common type of cancer that starts in the top layer of skin.

The main types of this cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both of which Mrs Smart has had.

"I have been having cryotherapy on my hands, arms and face for the last 10 to 15 years," she continued.

"Being then put under dermatology in the last four years, I've had to have more biopsies.

"So I've been cut left, right and centre on my arms and hands, and the most recent one has been my face, which is the one that really got me."

Contributed Mrs Smart in a selfie-style image. A large surgery scar from her lip to her nose can be seen. She wears a black hoodie with the hood placed above her head. Contributed
Mrs Smart had the tumour above her lip removed in surgery

A few months ago, Mrs Smart noticed "a little sore" between her nose and top lip, which she thought was dry skin.

However, a biopsy was done and a tumour was found.

Mrs Smart said she was "devastated" by the news and underwent surgery to remove the tumour as well as plastic surgery.

"I'm not a proud person or pretty-faced and bothered, but it's my face, and my face is my job as well - I'm a companion for the elderly," she added.

"It really worried me that I'm going to be disfigured."

Contributed A view of Mrs Smart's hand which is covered in red sores and peeling skin.Contributed
Mrs Smart said the cryotherapy had left her scarred on her hands and arms over the years

Mrs Smart was last week given the all clear, which she said was a huge relief.

"I want everybody out there, [to use] factor 50, cover yourself, wear a hat and don't care what you look like, take care of your skin," she said.

"The sun is lethal. You don't need to be tanned to be beautiful either, so what if you're pale":[]}