Sun Awareness Week: student reflects on cancer journey and how we all must look after our skin
A GCU student who survived stage 4 skin cancer is encouraging the GCU Community to look after themselves this summer.
The British Association of Dermatologists hosts a yearly campaign called Sun Awareness Week, which runs between 11 and 17 May. This year’s theme is sun protection and sunbeds, with a particular overall focus on how everyone can practice sun safety.
First year BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy and Oncology student Brian Matheson knows the dangers of the summer heat all too well.
He explained: “I was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma cancer on a birthmark on my head in 2021. I had lived in Spain for two years and didn’t protect myself from the sun properly.
“I got surgery to remove the melanoma cancer, but in 2023 I was told I had stage 4 cancer. I started two years of treatment at the Beatson. Thankfully, I’ve since been told that I’m going to live a fully normal life.”
Brian’s treatment inspired him to go into further education, and now he wants to remind others of the importance of looking after their skin.
He said: “A few months after, I decided to study an Access Course which then allowed me to start studying Radiotherapy and Oncology at GCU last year. I wanted to give something back and felt like I really owed it to the people who helped me throughout my cancer journey.
“It’s so important for students to look after their skin. I didn’t think about it when I was 20 years old, but when I see guys now just taking their top off and walking about it really worries me.”
Following his cancer treatment, Brian has experienced a number of challenges throughout his everyday life. He now wants others to consider making simple changes that can help make a big difference in the future.
“I see people staring at me but they obviously don’t know what I’ve been through,” explained Brian. As soon as heat touches my arms, it feels like sun going onto sunburnt skin and that’s just because of all the treatment I’ve had for cancer.
“There’s a lot of small things that can be done that can really make a difference. For example, a UV hooded jumper is really comfortable and quite fashionable – I actually think more people would wear them if they knew about them. Driving gloves are really good too because you don’t realise how exposed your hands are when you’re in the car. I also wear a cap with flaps on it and a net across my face.”
“The brand Elf, who are popular for their makeup, do a lot of great suncream products as well – including a roller specifically for the face. I would definitely encourage students to look into that because it feels a lot better on your face than normal suntan lotion.”
Brian added: “I also want to say; don’t use sunbeds – just be happy with how you look.”
Find out more about Sun Awareness Week here
By Ross Clark
Achieved something related to your course or in your personal life? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk