With summer-like days upon us, how can anyone not be at the beach?

A former sunworshipper herself, Haven Bey too spent a lot of time at the beach, thinking a tan was a sign of good health. It was not.

"I actually thought, in my case, it was a blood blister. It looked very round and everything was kind of in the right proportions.

At 30, in fact, she found out she had malignant melanoma.

"I was thinking how can I be so young and told I have cancer."

Luckily, Haven had her mole checked right away. A month later, things might have been different. Melonoma moves that quickly.

Dona Cadman knows. She lost her husband, Surrey MP, Chuck Cadman to melanoma last summer.She launched a Memorial Skin Cancer screening on Parliament Hill in his name to urge Canadians not to delay in taking action.

Cadman, "I'm asking men in particular to be aware of changes in moles and spots on your skin and most of all take action and put aside work and other commitments."

Dr. Jason Rivers, Dermatologist, says, "the fact the UV levels are high, you need to take more precautions. When they're down at the beaches, try and look for shade, keep t-shirt on and use sunscreen and apply frequently."

Now five months pregnant with her third child, Haven never goes out without sunscreen.  In the past few years, she's had other moles removed and is awaiting word on yet another one.

Haven says people should lookout for anything that's out of the ordinary. For her it was bright red, raised moles. For others, it might be an asymmetrical mole with an irregular border, that might have changed colour and grown in diameter. If you're unsure about a mole or spot, check with your doctor.

Friday May 19, 2006