Published on 20 May 2026
A former Cheshire air stewardess who spent years soaking up the sunshine while travelling the world is urging people to take sun safety seriously after she was diagnosed with skin cancer.
Self-confessed ‘sun worshipper’ Claire Jordan says years of sunbathing and occasional sunbed use contributed to her developing melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, despite always using high factor lotion.
Claire, who has now been treated successfully for the disease, is sharing her story during Skin Cancer Awareness Month in the hope others have any changes to their skin checked out early and to avoid too much exposure to ultra violet (UV) light.
Claire, aged 51, who lives in Nantwich with her husband Simon, said: “I was always a sun worshipper, stemming from nine years as an air stewardess travelling the world – and started using sunbeds around the age of 24.
“But I had always been incredibly careful in the sun on holiday, always using plenty of lotion and using a high factor, and didn’t think my occasional sunbed use would ever be harmful. But it goes to show that you need to be incredibly careful to protect your skin.”
Claire is speaking out to encourage others to protect themselves. And to warn that any new or changing patches of skin should be checked out promptly by a clinician.
Claire, a patient representative at Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA), was diagnosed in April last year after she went to her GP surgery with a mole she was concerned about.
“When I noticed a mole on my neck had changed colour and shape, my first thoughts were that maybe I had scratched or knocked it and that it would heal and look normal again,” she said. “But I plucked up the courage to make an appointment to get it checked out.”
Claire was assessed by an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), who used Cinapsis, a secure digital dermatology referral system, to send images to a specialist team at her local Leighton Hospital, in Crewe. “After several photos of the mole were sent to dermatology, I received an immediate referral,” she said.
The mole was removed at the hospital two weeks later and she was given a diagnosis – a malignant melanoma. The dermatology team then referred Claire to The Christie Hospital, in Manchester, for further surgery to ensure all melanoma in the tissue around it was removed.
That surgery was successful and, as the cancer was found at an early stage, Claire was given the all-clear and no further treatment was needed. She will now be followed up by The Christie and dermatology teams for up to five years.
Claire said: “I thank my lucky stars every day that, thanks to the quick referral and professionalism of Rachael, the AHP at my GP practice, I was seen incredibly quickly before my melanoma spread further. Rachael was very thorough, calm and professional throughout. I left feeling supported, looked after and understood. Without her initial care I would be in a very different place today – and I couldn’t have asked for a better service than I had from all the NHS teams I saw during this.”
Claire said her experience had changed her outlook on having a tan and sunbathing. “I now have the rest of my life ahead of me and have not visited the sunbed shop since,” she said. “I wear a hat in the sun and strict factor 50 and I would encourage everyone to do the same. Keeping safe in the sun is really important – it could save your life.”
Alex Benson, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Clinical Lead for skin cancer at CMCA, said: “Avoiding damage to your skin from excess sunlight is one of the few risks that everyone can change. Sunburn is damage to the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer. Young people should keep away from sunbeds.
“Any changing mole, area that doesn’t heal on its own within three months or new growing lump should be checked by a qualified professional.”
How to stay safe in the sun:
• Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest – in the UK this is usually between 11am and 3pm (March to October)
• Cover up with suitable clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
• Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection – but do not rely on sunscreen alone
• Apply sunscreen generously and reapply frequently – especially after swimming, sweating or towel-drying
• Take extra care with children and keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight
• Avoid sunbeds – there is no safe way to get a tan from UV exposure.
It is also important to regularly check your skin for new or changing moles. If you notice anything worrying – such as a mole or patch of skin that changes in size, shape or colour, or starts bleeding or crusting – contact your GP practice.