Did you know that skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, Loungers?
In the UK, around 147,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year. It affects more men than women and is more common in older people.
By now, we all know how important it is to check our bodies for lumps, bumps and other unusual things. Besides, nobody knows your body better than you, right, Loungers?
Kassie Barker, a member of our Female Family, is no stranger to how important it is to know your normal. We caught up with Kassie on her journey with skin cancer, why knowing your normal is so important and what she's doing to raise awareness.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, including what you do for a living, what you enjoy doing etc.
I’m Kassandra Barker, I’m 23 and I’m from Newcastle Upon Tyne. Since the young age of six, dance has always been my passion! At the age of 18, my professional dance career began when I started at my dance college. After my first year, I was so ready to just get out there and start auditioning, this is when I was offered my first professional contract with Carnival Cruises.
Since then, I’ve done 2.5 contracts with them along with countless other dance jobs in between contracts. My life quite literally revolves around it!
Can you tell us about your journey with skin cancer, taking us from the very beginning up until now.
From around the age of 2 years old, I have had a mole on the top of my wrist. This is never something that has caused me any harm or hassle, it has just always been there. It wasn’t until I was home with nothing but time to spare, that I found someone else’s video and their journey with moles and skin cancer. I had an overwhelming feeling that I needed to get my mole checked. It was as if my body just knew.
Unfortunately, my GP would not give anyone an appointment if the mole is not causing you harm/stress or if it has not changed. This meant to get my initial phone consultation I had to lie. I am thankful to this day that I did because if I hadn’t of lied, who knows what stage I could be at now. After my initial phone consultation, I was given an appointment with a nurse where she completed the ABCDE check. (Asymmetrical, Border, Colour, Dimensions, Everything else).
Because my mole fit into every single category, I was classed as a 2 week emergency cancer case, which meant the mole would be getting removed within 2 weeks for a biopsy. My first operation was November 7th, 2020.
How did you feel when you were diagnosed with Melanoma?
I was initially told I would most likely have my results before Christmas. On the 23rd December when I still had not heard anything, I decided to call the hospital. The receptionist was shocked that no one had been in touch and told me she needed me in the next day. On Christmas Eve, I was told that I have stage 1 Melanoma.
I was then due to undergo a second operation at the end of February to go deeper into the skin to be sure the cancer had not spread to my nearby lymph nodes. After another couple of months of waiting, worrying and stopping my career as I knew it, I was finally given the all clear from that mole, however skin cancer is known for coming back.
When you relapsed, what helped you get through such a challenging time?
After a few months of getting back on track, feeling good again, getting back to dancing and loving life again, the dreaded quarterly appointment came through. This time, there were three moles that needed removing. One of them was on my foot so that meant no dancing for a while!
The main thing that got me through was having an amazing support system I have around me. In times like this, it really is the small things that keep you smiling and truly knowing what is important.
How important is it for people to check their bodies, especially for younger people who may feel like diseases such as Melanoma won’t affect them?
I was once 18 and using sun beds every other week, sometimes once every week, and I will happily put my hands up and say I loved it at the time. I was the person that thought something like this would never affect me. Everyone told me, but I was never really listening.
Melanoma is not something that is spoken about in comparison to how much we discuss other types of cancer. I hadn’t ever heard of it which is so confusing to me when it can be just as deadly! Everyone should be getting to know their bodies and constantly checking. If you’re unsure, get it checked!
Do you think enough is being done to raise awareness of skin cancer? If not, what more do you think should be done?
There is absolutely not enough being done to promote awareness around the topic of skin cancer. I have spoken to various newspapers and radio stations as well as starting my own petition.
I believe there should be more information out there and it should be possible for anyone to get any mole checked regardless of the typical effects or changes. I had absolutely none of the above, maybe if I had waited for those signs I could have been stage 4? I might not even be here writing this. I also think social media is our best bet for promoting anything at the moment. I think popular brands with larger audiences, especially underwear brands, should be promoting people checking their bodies for moles!
What makes you feel confident in your own skin?
Me feeling confident in my own skin really has nothing to do with what people would typically think such as having the ‘perfect body’ we can often see on social media. For me, being as authentic as possible is what makes me feel confident, happy, and comfortable! Stretch marks are normal, scars are normal, and everybody is different. That is the beauty of humans! A good underwear set never goes wrong either! Having pretty underwear that makes you feel strong, sexy and confident can change your whole mood!
What do you love about Lounge as a brand and why?
My favourite thing about Lounge as a brand is the diversity! I love that instead of keeping up with social standards or what is ‘expected’, they are real. I love that they show normal on their social media and their website. I think this is a really huge thing, especially for younger girls who are currently growing up with the unrealistic standards that are set daily on social media! Stretch marks are normal. Rolls or overhanging skin is normal. Any size, shape, colour, scarred or not. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and I believe that Lounge shows that and promotes it in the best way!
What are three things you’re grateful for?
Three things I’m grateful for are my family, friends, and boyfriend for their constant support and love. My past experiences have allowed me to grow and learn to love myself the way I do. I’m also grateful for my health, although not in perfect condition at the moment, but there are so many people far worse off.
So, what are the symptoms of Melanoma? Signs to look out for include a mole that's:
Getting bigger
Changing shape
Changing colour
Bleeding or becoming crusty
Itchy or sore
Remember, Loungers, you can also check your moles by doing the ABCDE check. This should help you tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma:
Asymmetrical – melanomas usually have 2 very different halves and are an irregular shape
Border – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border
Colours – melanomas will usually be a mix of 2 or more colours
Diameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter
Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma
Remember, no one knows your normal as well as you do. If in doubt, get it checked out.
We love you, Loungers.