{"id":120100,"date":"2022-07-28T23:06:47","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T17:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centralrecorder.com\/woman-left-with-hole-in-her-head-after-sunbed-obsession-nearly-killed-her\/"},"modified":"2022-07-28T23:07:36","modified_gmt":"2022-07-28T17:37:36","slug":"the-woman-left-with-holeafter-sunbed-obsession-almost-killed-her-she-was-left-with-a-head-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centralrecorder.com\/the-woman-left-with-holeafter-sunbed-obsession-almost-killed-her-she-was-left-with-a-head-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"The woman left with \u2018hole\u2019After sunbed obsession almost killed her, she was left with a head injury."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MUM was left with a gap in her head due to her sunbed obsession that almost nearly killed her.<\/p>\n

Nickie Murtagh is 37 years old and has been fighting skin cancer. She now wants to warn others about this deadly disease.<\/p>\n

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Nickie Murtagh is pictured in 2017. She became obsessed sunbeds.<\/span>Credit to Jam Press<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nickie would like to warn others about the dangers from UV exposure.<\/span>Credit to Caters<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nickie’s skin has been affected by UV and sunburns over the years.<\/span>Credit to Jam Press<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Londoner began to use sunbeds in her early 20s when a friend who was a sunbed entrepreneur started her own sunbed shop.<\/p>\n

She steadily increased her use until she was hooked \u2013 jumping on the sunbed up to twice a week for 8-12 minutes.<\/p>\n

Nickie noticed a small bald spot in 2016 along her exposed blonde hairline.<\/p>\n

Nickie previously told Central Recorder: \u201cI booked an appointment with my GP, and was told I had a small cyst that was nothing to worry about, and could safely remain untreated.<\/p>\n

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“But it continued to grow slowly over the next 2 years. Eventually it was the size of a one pence coin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although her family and friends urged her to have the odd lump checked again, her GP believed that the problem was still present. “cosmetic”.<\/p>\n

She spoke to NeedToKnow.online “The doctor said she would refer me due to the size, but not to expect an appointment as she thought it was fine.\u00a0“<\/p>\n

Nickie finally went to her appointment 3 months later. She was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in May 2018.<\/p>\n

BCC is the most common form of non-melanoma, skin cancer.<\/p>\n

Nickie, mother to Sophie, Ruby, 15, Ryan, 13 and Ruby, 19, said that she works at The Royal Marsden Hospital, so has seen a lot of cancer. But, that word still sends chills.<\/p>\n

“We didn\u2019t want to even tell the kids as we knew they wouldn\u2019t be able to see the past that word.”<\/p>\n

Nickie was awake during the two-hour operation in December 2018 when doctors removed the tumorous lump and skin surrounding it.<\/p>\n

To cover her hole in her forehead, a skin graft was performed on her thigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfterwards, I was left with felt like a sizeable crater on my head,\u201d Nickie said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I was stunned at how much my scalp had been removed when I took a photo with my phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen the hole was packed with the tissue from my leg and a dressing was applied while it healed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut thankfully it was good news was, when the tissue was examined, it was clear of cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Nickie’s hole in her head after a ping-ball-sized tumour was removed from her scalp<\/span>Credit: PrimeFeatures Agency<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Following the surgery, Nickie suffered a ‘crater in her head’.<\/span>Credit: PrimeFeatures Agency<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nickie’s head now<\/span>Credit to Jam Press<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nickie also has Melasma, which is a brown patch or freckle-like spot that appears every time the sun shines.<\/span>Credit to Jam Press<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mother-of-three, however, said that she felt better after the surgery. “felt depressed”She feared that she would be a “ticking timebomb”.<\/p>\n

She said: “I\u2019m always worried about a return as skin cancer is usually recurrent. It is a real fear that never goes away.<\/p>\n

“I now have regular checks of my skin and moles, I am left with huge scars and awful skin on my face due to sun damage, especially melasma.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melasma, a skin condition characterized by brown or blue-grey spots or freckles-like spots that appear on Nickie’s skin every time the sun shines, is known as Melasma.<\/p>\n

Nickie commented, “I’ve tried so many things to get rid of it but nothing works. This is what I did to it.”<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t like how I look now \u2013 but that\u2019s my battle scars and forever reminder that I have my life so will do everything I can to help push this horrid cancer awareness.”<\/p>\n

Nickie now dedicates her time to spreading awareness about the dangers of sun exposure, sunbeds, and other sun-related issues.<\/p>\n

According to the Mayo Clinic her skin-coloured cancer, BCC (Blood Colored Cancer), can often appear as a shiny and pearly-looking bump.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bump can look brownish or glossy black on skin that is brown or black.<\/p>\n

The most severe form of skin cancer is melanoma.<\/p>\n

The simple approach is recommended by most experts.\u00a0\u201cABCDE\u201d rule\u00a0to look for symptoms of melanoma skin cancer.<\/p>\n

Nickie stated that she frequently “forgot to wear sun cream”Was “too vain to wear hats”.<\/p>\n

She said in 2019: \u201cI knew all about being safe from the sun. My failure to apply that knowledge has left me with a gap in my head, and a scar on my leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first I kept thinking, I am not the \u2018typical\u2019Patient with skin cancer who has been on a lot of vacations abroad and been a sun-worshipper. <\/p>\n

“But now I realise, there is no typical skin cancer patient.”<\/p>\n

Nickie posts regularly on TikTok about her efforts to improve her skin. She also warns others not too.<\/p>\n

You can find out more at Recent video<\/a>She shocked viewers when she turned the camera on the hole in her skull just after giving warnings “stay off the sunbeds and use SPF”.<\/p>\n

Nickie showed the damage to her face and said: \u201cwhile we are at it, let\u2019s check out the skin cancer\u201dBefore she tilts her scalp towards camera.<\/p>\n

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Nickie began by showing viewers the pigmentation she had on her skin due to sun damage.<\/span>Credit: TikTok\/ @nickienoomurtagh<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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However, she stunned viewers by showing the terrible hole in her skull that was caused by skin cancer.<\/span>Credit: TikTok\/ @nickienoomurtagh<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking for a Tan?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Fabulous’ Dying For A Tan campaign raises awareness of the dangers associated with sunbeds. Sunbeds can increase your risk for skin cancer and cause premature death.<\/p>\n

There are approximately 7,000 tanning shops in Britain. Some even offer treatments starting from 50p per minute.<\/p>\n

Children as young as eight are sunbathing on sunbeds. With little to no understanding, they seem to be playing Russian Roulette with the health of their bodies.<\/p>\n

Cancer Research UK says that the risk of developing skin cancer from melanoma is 16-25 percent higher for people who have ever used a sunbed than those who have not used one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sunbeds can cause skin cancer by exposing it to strong UV rays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just 20 minutes on one is comparable to four hours in the sun \u2013 with many stronger than Mediterranean rays at midday.<\/p>\n

In many cases the damage is invisible until it\u2019s too late, as it can take up to 20 years to become apparent.<\/p>\n

Each year, around 16,000 cases of melanoma skin carcinoma are diagnosed in the UK. That’s 44 per day.<\/p>\n

Around 2,300 people die from melanoma every year – that’s more then six per day.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s part of the reason the World Health Organisation has deemed sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking.<\/p>\n

Fabulous is urging you to quit Dying For A Tan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n