A MUM-OF-THREE who was diagnosed with skin cancer last summer is backing a campaign that encourages people to feel their body for signs of sun damage.

Middlewich resident Janine Grimsley, 37, noticed a raised spot near her knee when she was taking a bath but after seeking advice from a doctor, was told it was fine.

The spot began to increase in size and change shape and colour and it was only when her youngest sister, Sarah, saw the lesion at a wedding that the 37-year-old sought further medical advice.

Janine was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2011 and had an operation to remove the lesion and additional tissue, which left a three-and-a-half inch scar.

Following her ordeal, she has given her full support to the Give Your Skin A Good Feel campaign, launched by LEO Pharma and the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, to draw attention to sun-damaged skin.

“There is a lot of awareness about other types of cancer but a lot more education needs to take place about the signs to look for when it comes to sun damage and skin cancers,” Janine said.

“Campaigns like this are helping to raise much-needed awareness, particularly of the fact that it is not just those changes that you can see but those you can feel too.

“People need to be more aware of the classic signs and what they both look and feel like, so they know better what needs acting upon.

“I would like to see more public information campaigns run and more posters and features in magazines.

“It should have been screaming at me to get checked earlier but I just didn’t see what was happening.”

Janine added that more education campaigns targeted at schoolchildren could also help to promote the importance of skin protection.

The Give Your Skin A Good Feel campaign was sparked by the results of a survey that showed a higher percentage of people in the north west are worried about skin cancer, compared to the UK as a whole.

This is coupled with the statistic that every year, there are more new cases of skin cancer in the UK than breast and lung cancers combined.

Janine added: “Because I am a fit and active person, people have said to me that I don’t look like I should have got skin cancer.

“But it doesn’t pick and choose, which makes awareness key.”

For further information about the campaign or advice on how to protect your skin from sun damage, visit checkskinchanges.com.

Talk about this story on middlewichguardian.co.uk.

BREAKOUT THE Give Your Skin A Good Feel campaign also helps to support and educate people who may be at increased risk of sun damage.

Signs of sun damaged skin include: •age spots •lines •wrinkles •sunburn •solar keratosis - which can result in rough skin patches and show the importance of feeling for skin changes, as well as looking for them.