As one of the best ever spells of sunny weather faded away overnight with showers finally ending the May Day weekend's blue skies, the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has launched its 2011 Care in the Sun campaign to raise awareness of sun protection.

Kirsty Thompson, from Lisburn, (pictured) was in her early 20s when she found a mole on the back of her thigh.

"It wasn't overly big but it was different from other moles - it was red around the outside - and made me feel that something wasn't right.

"I went to see my doctor who removed it. It was confirmed as malignant melanoma in situ - so although it was cancerous, it was confined to the immediate area.

"I had further surgery to remove the area around the mole as a precautionary measure, and had regular check-ups to ensure the cancer had not returned," she said.

"I loved the sun and also occasionally used sun-beds - but I never thought I would be diagnosed with skin cancer - I was shocked this could happen to someone in their early 20s.

"I was incredibly fortunate that it was diagnosed so quickly and was treatable.

"I still enjoy the sun but would never dream of getting burnt or going out without sunscreen, and I stay in the shade in the hottest part of the day. A holiday is no longer about coming home with a tan.

"If you have any concerns about any moles see your doctor straight away. Early detection was the key to my recovery - others aren't so lucky," she concluded.

The call for extra sun care comes only days after Northern Ireland basked in the hottest April since 1974 with the charity reminding local people that they don't need to go abroad to burn in the sun.

The latest figures reveal that a total of 175 people in Northern Ireland attended hospital A&E units with sunburn in 2008/09, up 33 on the previous year.

As Care in the Sun Week loomed (9th-13th May) Naomi Thompson, UCF Senior Cancer Prevention Officer and a member of the NI Melanoma Strategy Implementation Group, said: "People need to remember that although April was one of the warmest on record in Northern Ireland, the sun's rays are even stronger from May to September.

"Research by UCF shows that eight out of 10 people do not apply sunscreen at home unless they are 'actively' sunbathing.

"Our message is that you don't need to be sunbathing to get skin cancer - rather it is over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) which can cause serious damage over time.

"It is important for everyone to avoid getting sunburned, particularly children," she said.

"Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Northern Ireland and accounts for 28% of all cancers diagnosed. Around 2,500 people develop it each year."

In 2008, almost 300 people in Northern Ireland were diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer - 136 men and 161 women. In 2009, 18 men and 27 women died as a result of malignant melanoma.

(BMcC/KMcA)