Woman who thought red patch on face was eczema 'freaked out' to discover it was cancer
A woman from Dorset has shared a warning after mistaking a red patch on her face for eczema.
When Beth Brown, 30, first saw the red mark she didn't think it would be anything serious, but went to see her doctor when it continued to grow.
The flight attendant was left horrified when she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common form of skin cancer.
Beth revealed that prior to her diagnosis she had not used SPF suncream, and had also been using sun beds to tan since she was 22 years old.
Advert
In May, Beth had an appointment to have the tumour removed, and her skin is now fully healed from the procedure, though she still goes for checkups.
After her health scare, Beth has warned others to avoid using tanning beds and to make sure they apply proper sun cream when out and about.
“I was very naive, I thought it would never happen to me. I definitely regret using sun beds now," she said.
She added: “When I was diagnosed with BCC, I felt so freaked out and also really stupid. I thought, ‘have I done this to myself?’.
"I just want to help other girls and raise awareness that it is more common than you think and it could happen to you.”
Beth explained that she had never used sun cream as it was 'what I’d grown up with', and her job as a flight attendant frequently sees her heading to sunny places.
Prior to her diagnosis Beth would use sun beds between twice a month and once a week, beginning with six minute sessions, then eight, and finally 20 minute sessions.
She said: “It scares me now, but it was just the norm. On social media, being tanned is portrayed as being cool, but it’s quite sad really, as actually you are damaging your skin."
Beth began to notice the patch on her skin, and by October 2025 it was too big to cover with make-up so she spoke to her boyfriend's mother, who happened to be a doctor.
It was then that Beth was told she needed to get it checked out as she could have BCC, and Beth booked an appointment.
“If it wasn’t for her, I might never have gone to the doctors," said Beth. “I was so shocked, I hadn’t realised the extent of what could happen from not wearing sun cream and using sun beds."
Beth had to wait six months for the appointment to remove the tumour, saying: “I was so scared that it would grow while I was waiting for the appointment."
Now, she is on the mend, taking a month off work to heal.
“I hadn’t known how intense the healing process would be," she said. “I’d told my work I’d be back the next day as I thought I'd just have a little stitch, but I walked out with a hole in my face."
Beth has now stopped using sun beds and always applies sun cream when she goes out, saying: “I’m a sunshine baby at heart, but I make sure to look after my skin. I wear SPF every day now, I can’t imagine going outside without putting it on my face.:
Kit Roberts