Carol Vorderman claims 'damage is done' as she opens up on 'frightening' cancer diagnosis: 'Burning away’
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Carol Vorderman has revealed how she faced a skin cancer scare at age 50 following years of dangerous sunbathing habits.
The former Countdown presenter, now 63, admitted to "burning away merrily for many, many years" during her youth when she and her peers would sunbathe whilst "doused in cooking oil".
"I'm of the generation where we started to sunbathe - my mother's generation didn't," Vorderman said, explaining that during the 60s, 70s, and 80s, sun protection was virtually non-existent.
When she noticed changes in her skin, Vorderman consulted a dermatologist who performed a biopsy, revealing precancerous cells.
"You hear that word, and it's very frightening," she said in an Instagram video.
The TV presenter emphasised she had "no symptoms, nothing like that" but was concerned enough to seek medical advice.
The Countdown star admitted she was "merrily burning away"
PA
Rather than seeking sympathy, Vorderman has used her experience to highlight the crucial importance of sun safety.
Following her diagnosis, Vorderman had the precancerous cells removed and now undergoes annual check-ups.
"I slather myself in SPF at all opportunities," she revealed, acknowledging that while "the damage is already done," she has completely changed her sun habits.
The presenter no longer sunbathes and ensures she stays covered up, marking a dramatic shift from her earlier approach to sun exposure.
She admitted in her younger years there was no such thing as SPF
PA
The story took on a deeply personal dimension when Vorderman lost her mother to cancer in 2017.
Her mother had battled three different types of cancer, with melanoma being the final one.
"Not a single time in her life did she sunbathe - my mum had a different skin to me, she had moles, I don't," Vorderman explained.
She noted the crucial difference between their skin types, adding: "I know that makes you much more prone to melanomas."
Vorderman's experience reflects a generational shift in understanding sun safety.
"We were caught in the formative years, the 60s, 70s, 80s, where we had absolutely no idea of what sun protection was - you just couldn't buy it," she explained.
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The star has since been campaigning for more awareness around skin cancer
PA
She believes awareness began to develop in the 1990s, but for many of her generation, like herself, the damage was already done through years of unprotected sun exposure.
Her story now serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of sun protection.
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