A 21-year-old says taking bikini selfies saved her life after she tried to have a mole removed, which turned out to be cancerous.
Cloe Jordan, from Wolverhampton, West Mids, was diagnosed with a melanoma three months ago after visiting her doctor to ask about getting her mole removed.
Jordan was body-conscious and was fed up of the mole on her stomach getting in the way of her bikini and underwear snaps.
So she decided to speak to her doctor about the mole, which was just above her stomach, to see if it could be removed.
Despite the mole growing in size and changing colour Jordan had dismissed these worrying signs and after visiting her doctor, she was referred for further tests.
Devastatingly, a biopsy revealed Jordan had skin cancer which doctors believe has spread.
Jordan’s mole has since been removed and while she is awaiting further treatment, Jordan has decided to share her story as a warning to others.
Jordan, who works in telesales, said: “I had no idea my mole has turned cancerous, I’d had it all my life.
“I loved going on holiday and being tanned, and although I didn’t regularly go on sunbeds, I did go through a period of going on once or twice per month.
“I’d had the mole on my stomach since I was born and when it started to change shape last summer, I didn’t take much notice.
“But I had hated it for some time and every time I wore a bikini or nice underwear and took a selfie, I felt it was getting in the way.
“That’s why I decided to go to the doctors and get it removed.
“But after being referred to see if I was eligible to have it taken off by the NHS, I was swarmed by around eight doctors who looked concerned after seeing it.
“It was then that a biopsy was taken and I was diagnosed with skin cancer.
“I felt numb, I never imagined to get something so serious while being young but I’m so thankful it was getting in the way of my bikini selfies now, as it has definitely saved my life.”
Jordan, who has naturally pale skin, claims she has only been on the sunbeds a handful of times in her lifetime and has rarely been abroad on holiday.
She added: “I used to enjoy getting a tan on holiday but I haven’t been abroad more than once a year.
“It was last summer that I noticed my mole changing but I wasn’t concerned.
“It had gotten slightly bigger and darker in colour but it wasn’t an alarming change.
“I only went to the doctors at the start of January as I didn’t like the look of it, I had no idea it could have killed me.
“I’m so lucky I went when I did, as although it has spread, it has now been removed from my stomach.
“The scar in the middle of my tummy is actually quite big as surgeons said the mole was deep into my skin as I’d had it for so many years.”
At first Jordan didn’t tell anyone but close family about her skin cancer diagnosis but recently she decided to talk about her experiences online.
She said: “I decided to post a photo of my scar because it wasn’t until after my surgery that it really hit home what I’d been through.
“I knew that if by sharing my experiences and it stopped one person going on sunbeds it would be worthwhile.
“I will never lay in the sun again and would much rather stick to a bottle of fake tan or have a spray tan than damage my skin.”
Jordan’s surgery to remove her cancerous mole took place on March 24 and she will need to wait for further tests before doctors can organise the next steps in her treatment.
She said: “I’m waiting for an appointment to have a radioactive solution pumped around my body so doctors can find where the cancer has spread to.
“Hopefully once all my treatment has finished later this year I will be cancer free and I’ll be able to continue with my life as normal.
“I have been in a lot of pain since my operation but I’ve had my family and boyfriend on hand to help every step of the way.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with messages of support since posting my story online and I’ve lots of girls messaging me with photos of moles that they’re concerned about.
“I would tell anyone who has any worries over skin changes to get themselves checked by a doctors, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”