In a typical summer, Oceana Strachan — a Wollongong model who grew up on the coast and relished the outdoor lifestyle — would swim and tan at the beach every day.
"SPF [sunscreen] wasn't my biggest friend back then — I knew there was danger to be in the sun too long and I'd never purposely go out and get burnt or bake, but I did spend a lot of time out there," she said.
Earlier this year, she said that time caught up with her.
After a biopsy on a mole on her ankle was taken, the 25-year-old was diagnosed with a stage two melanoma.
"I was lucky my partner was in the room when my doctor told me the news because I was speechless," she said.
"All this guilt started boiling up and I thought of all the time I've spent in the sun and blamed myself for it."
Melanoma leads to ambassador role
Ms Strachan booked into the Melanoma Institute to have the cancer removed, but not before a further scare to check that it had not spread to lymph nodes in her groin.
She is now an ambassador for the Melanoma Institute's Game On Mole campaign, encouraging young people to take a selfie and examine their skin for changes.
"Young people need to be mindful because I'm 25 and, honestly, it's not worth feeling what I had to feel at that time and I'm very lucky to have the outcome I did."
Professor Richard Scolyer from the Melanoma Institute said his organisation has launched Game On Mole early this year because of concerns people have been reluctant to get skin checks during the 2021 COVID outbreaks.
He said any delays could be the difference between life and death.
"We don't think there's less numbers of people that have melanoma, it's just they are delayed in seeking advice on a diagnosis," he said.
"We know 90 per cent of melanomas can be cured with surgery, but undetected, the melanoma can spread to vital organs like the lungs, liver or brain and that can lead to death."
Pandemic causes lapse in check-ups
Ms Strachan said she missed a skin check-up in 2020 because of the pandemic, but once a spot on her ankle she was previously told not to worry about became itchy and turned red, she sought help.
Professor Scolyer said Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma anywhere in the world, with one Australian diagnosed every 30 minutes.
"It's the commonest cancer in young adults, so it's important they know their skin, and if they see something that's changed, seek medical attention because early detection is vital in saving lives."
