Q. Raylene, can you please share a little about yourself?
Hello, my name is Raylene. I’m 44 years old from Melbourne, Victoria. I am a Waste Education officer and I’m a mother of three children, aged 14, 11 and 9.
Q. Can you share why raising awareness about skin cancer is so important to you?
I’m sharing my story in the hope that it will encourage others to take skin cancer seriously. I don’t want anyone to experience the sadness, stress, and uncertainty I went through when I was diagnosed with melanoma. It was truly life-changing. As something actually quite preventable, I especially want to reach young people who think it won’t happen to them. Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate and taking steps to protect yourself now can make all the difference later.
Q. What was your approach to sun safety/skin safety growing up and, in your teens and twenties?
I grew up in the 80s, and I don’t remember learning much about the dangers of the sun in primary school. We were told to wear sunscreen, but that was about it. My love for the sun really began in high school. I spent three months in Malta, trying to get the perfect tan. Having a tan was considered a positive thing back then; it was seen as a sign of health, and people admired the look of sun-kissed skin. I wanted to look good. At 17, using solariums was very popular, and I used them regularly for about six months. I knew the sun wasn’t good for me, but as a young, fit 17-year-old, I didn’t think anything would actually happen to me. I didn’t realise the risks of using solariums at the time either.
Q. You have spent a significant amount of your career working in the healthcare system, were you aware of the seriousness of Melanoma and do you feel there is enough education in this space?
I started working in healthcare in my 30s, and by then I was aware of the harmful effects of the sun and solarium use. I wasn’t spending time in the sun anymore, and solariums had already been banned for commercial use in Australia. I knew skin cancer was a risk, but I didn’t fully understand just how life-threatening Melanoma could be or how easily it could happen to someone like me. Looking back, I feel there wasn’t enough education about the dangers of sun exposure and the risks of solariums. Even today, I believe more awareness and education are needed, especially for younger people. They need to really understand the dangers of tanning and sun damage – they need to hear from people who have lived it – everyday people like myself.
Q. Now this question is going to be difficult, so please take your time to answer, can we go back in time to your diagnosis? What led you to get a skin check?
At 33, I noticed changes to a freckle I’d always had on my chest. It was initially biopsied and found benign, but over the period of 8 years, it developed pigmentation, leading to multiple laser treatments as recommended by specialists. Over time, the pigmentation kept changing in shape and colour, prompting me to schedule an appointment with a plastic surgeon. He assured me that it was fine to continue with laser treatments and did not suggest it was anything more than pigmentation resulting from the removal. This was not correct. In December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the area turned black and began bleeding. After several delays due to COVID, I finally saw a dermatologist in April 2022, who performed three punch biopsies.
Q. Can you share what was running through your head when you heard the diagnosis?
I was at work when I got the call -
"I’m very sorry, you have Melanoma and it is big."
The news was a shock—I was at work. I fell to my knees, inconsolable. I’m a fit, healthy mother of three, and the thought of dying and leaving my children was unbearable.
I had Stage 1B Melanoma, and it was spreading quickly. Just two days later, I found myself at the Melanoma Clinic at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne for my first appointment. Important decisions had to be made, including whether to perform a sentinel biopsy to check if the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. My husband wasn’t allowed to enter the hospital with me, and I had to face this alone. I felt scared and anxious, worried about making the wrong decision. In the end, I made the right decision for me.
A week later, I was scheduled for surgery. The experience was incredibly emotional. A significant section of skin from my chest was removed with a clear margin around the site to ensure they had all the cancer. Waiting for the results was a difficult time, but my family and friends rallied around me to help me get through it.
The recovery was extremely painful. It took me days to summon the courage to look at my scar, which was stitched from the base of my neck to the middle of my chest. I remember the day I finally went to the bathroom to face it, to touch it, to make peace with it. It was traumatic.
I recall my eldest daughter (11 years old) walking in and saying,
"Mum, don’t worry. What would you prefer: to not be here?"
She quickly put everything into perspective for me.
Q. And how has it changed your life moving forward?
I have spent the last two years attending ultrasounds and body checks, and I will continue to see my dermatologist annually for skin checks. I always believed that my experience happened for a reason. It prompted me to reflect on my life, re-evaluate my friendships, and determine what truly matters to me. I realised that I am no longer here to please others; my well-being and that of my family must come first.
I’m also thrilled to be reconnecting with Jayde and so proud of Sontse and the message behind self-tanning. Perhaps this is why this happened to me: to spread awareness. For two years, I hid my scar because I wasn’t ready to face the looks or the questions. But now, two years later, I wear it proudly. I want you to ask me what happened because I want to raise awareness. I want people to understand that Melanoma can happen to anyone.
Q. What changes have you, your children, husband, wider family/friends and/or those around you made to your lifestyle/s after hearing their diagnosis? How has it impacted those around you?
Since my diagnosis, my children wear sunscreen on their faces daily, all year round. My husband, a tradesman who works outdoors, never used to wear sunscreen. Now, he has annual checks at the skin cancer centre for full-body mapping and applies sunscreen regularly. You can only be lucky for so long; eventually, the consequences of sun exposure will catch up with you.
Q. What would you like to see change when it comes to skin checks and accessibility?
I would like to see routine skin cancer screenings covered under Medicare to improve accessibility for everyone. Currently, many individuals may hesitate to seek regular skin checks due to cost, leading to delayed diagnoses. If skin screenings were covered, more people would likely take advantage of these services, leading to earlier detection and potentially saving lives.
Q. You and the founder of Sontse, Jayde, have known each other for a very long time and re-connected through the brand and our deeper sun safety message. Can you share your thoughts on opting for a self-tan and encouraging your daughters to choose a safer alternative to sun exposure?
I believe in using self-tan as a safer option than sun exposure, especially for my daughters. After my experience with Melanoma, I realise how important it is to protect our skin from harmful UV rays. Self-tanning products like Sontse, let us achieve a sun-kissed look without the risks of tanning.
I want my daughters to understand that they don’t need to be in the sun to feel beautiful. We can be beautiful without a tan. I want them to know that they can enjoy the look of a tan while keeping their skin healthy. I hope to teach them the importance of making smart choices about their skin health, so they feel empowered to take care of themselves.
Q. How do you hope to positively impact others by sharing your story?
By being open about my diagnosis and sharing my journey, I hope to create a space where people feel comfortable discussing skin health and seeking help when needed. I want everyone to take their skin health seriously, and if my story can inspire even one person to get a skin cancer check or change their habits, I consider that a success.
Q. If you could share one piece of advice around sun safety with those reading this, what would it be?
Make skin checks part of your regular routine. Your health matters. And sorry, I must add one more. Listen to your gut, if you don’t trust the advice you receive, get a second opinion. It could save your life.
Raylene's powerful story is just one of many that will be shared as part of the Undress 2024 campaign. Her journey of strength, resilience, and commitment to sun safety serves as a reminder of the life-altering impact skin cancer can have. If her experience resonated with you, we invite you to continue following along, subscribe to our emails and forward them to a friend you care about. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire others to take their skin health seriously and opt for safer alternatives.
Oh, and if you know it’s time to stop sun tanning and switch to a more skin-safe alternative when it comes to achieving a beautifully bronzed glow, come explore our sunless tanning range today.
