Mum Sarah O’Brien diagnosed with skin cancer after driving without wearing sunscreen

By William On Jan 27, 2023

A 37-year-old mother has opened up about the horrifying moment doctors told her the “pesky pimple” on her temple was actually cancer.

Sydney’s mother, Sarah O’Brien, dismissed the growth over her right eye as a blemish before going to a clinic to have it removed while it was still there two months later.

“Every time I would move my bangs around with my fingers, I would touch them, which would bother me, so she wanted me to take it off for that reason,” Sarah told FEMAIL.

“I walked into the skin clinic thinking nothing, then the doctor said ‘it doesn’t look good’.”

Tests revealed it to be basal cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer, which had to be removed immediately.

Sarah O’Brien, mother of one, was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in May 2022, a common type of skin cancer. Three months earlier, she had noticed a lump on her right temple and thought it was a pimple, but when it began to grow and hurt, she had it checked out.

Eight months later, the mother shares her story so others can watch for signs.

she said that The news came as a ‘complete shock’ as she had had a skin check five months before doctors confirmed the growth was cancerous.

Sarah, now 38, believes that driving with the sun beating down on her face, and not using SPF in the car, caused the stain to appear, because it was on the driver’s side, above her eye.

“I’ve always been sun-smart and wear sunscreen every day when I know I’m going to be in the sun, but I never thought to wear sunscreen while driving,” she said.

Sarah said that skin cancer is hereditary and that she is aware of the danger of the sun while spending time outdoors.

He also said that getting a diagnosis was easy.

The doctor performed a rapid needle biopsy to remove a sample from the lump and send it to the lab for testing.

A few days later, Sarah was called into the clinic to discuss the results, and was told it was cancerous.

The now 38-year-old woman believes the bump grew as a result of not wearing sunscreen while driving, as the bump was on the driver’s side of the face.

“It was a showdown for sure, I think everyone thinks they’re invincible until something happens,” he said.

Fortunately, the cancer was benign and had not spread to any other part of the body, so it just needed to be removed without any other treatment.

For that, Sarah considers herself lucky.

“I used to think of cancer as an ‘elderly problem’…but now I know that’s definitely not the case and it can happen to anyone at any age,” he said.

Fortunately, the cancer was benign and had not spread to any other part of the body, so it just needed to be removed without any other treatment. After the prognosis, the doctor removed the lump that day under local anaesthetic, but also had to take ‘about 3mm of tissue’ from around it, requiring Sarah between seven and nine stitches.

After the prognosis, the doctor removed the lump that day under local anaesthetic, but also had to remove ‘about 3mm of tissue’ surrounding it, requiring Sarah between seven and nine stitches.

The scar took five months to heal with Sarah using bio-oil to help the wound.

Today she uses sunscreen every time she leaves the house and teaches her three-year-old son how to protect himself from the sun.

“It’s very important that you get your skin checked, and that young people take care of it,” he said.

Top tips for using sunscreen:

* Put it on clean, dry skin 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun so it has time to interact with your skin. Reapply right before you head out – you’ll increase the amount applied and be more likely to get the stated SPF benefit.

* Cover all parts of the body that are not protected by clothing (don’t forget your ears, the back of your neck, the backs of your hands, and the tops of your feet).

*Apply evenly and don’t rub it in excessively – Most sunscreens will absorb into the outer layer of skin and don’t need to be rubbed in vigorously.

* Reapply at least once every two hours and after swimming or exercising.

* Think beyond the beach and pool: Wear sunscreen any time you’re outdoors for a significant amount of time, such as to the park, a lunchtime walk to the store, playing sports, or gardening.

* Keep your sunscreen at a temperature below 30 degrees Celsius. If you leave it in the glove compartment of your car or in the sun, it may lose its effectiveness. Store it outdoors with drinks, in the shade, or wrapped in a towel.

* Do not use sunscreens that are past their expiration date, as they may have lost their effectiveness.

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Two in three Australians will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, but new research from TAL reveals that the majority of Australians are unaware of how common skin cancer is in Australia, and more than 7 in 10 (72 per percent) believes that the diagnosis rate is lower.

TAL General Manager of Health Services, Dr Priya Chagan, says Australians need to apply sunscreen every morning and reapply throughout the day, check daily forecast UV levels and learn self-monitoring.

“Regularly checking your own skin can help maximize the chance of detecting skin cancer early and greatly increases the chance of successful treatment,” said Dr. Chagan.

“Despite the importance of self-monitoring in early detection, only 36 per cent of Australians know how to self-monitor their skin.”

To find out how to self-test your skin and schedule a skin check at your local GP, visit the TAL website here.