Claire Turner, a mother from Oxfordshire, initially thought her shoulder pain was just a pulled muscle. But when the discomfort and swelling persisted, she sought medical help three months later, leading to a life-changing revelation.
In October 2023, Claire, her husband, and their three children were on a weekend getaway when she first felt the pain. She noticed it after reaching back to hand her daughter a snack in the car. “It was pretty painful carrying a bag, and that night it was quite painful to lean back on it,” she recalled, according to the Daily Mail..
After returning from the trip, Claire went to the hospital, where doctors suspected a torn ligament. But when her shoulder continued to swell, she sought further advice. Doctors told her that shoulder injuries often take time to heal, but they referred her to an orthopedic consultant for an MRI.
Through a tough Christmas season, Claire anxiously awaited results, finding herself diving into “Google rabbit holes” to understand her symptoms. Finally, on January 26, she was diagnosed with stage four cutaneous malignant melanoma. “I came away knowing it was stage four,” she shared. “The doctor said I had a 50/50 chance of coming out the other side of this.”
A nurse explained that the cancer may have originated from past skin damage, which had left cancer cells deep in her body. By June, Claire learned that her cancer had spread to her liver, both thighs, glute, lymph nodes, and around her shoulder. She underwent three rounds of immunotherapy, and by August, scans showed a significant reduction in her tumors. “Ten years ago, with my diagnosis, I would have been given six to seven months to live,” she said, acknowledging the life-extending impact of immunotherapy.
Reflecting on her journey, Claire urges others to protect their skin from UV rays. In her 20s, she had used sunbeds to achieve a tan, something she now avoids. “I still sit in the sun, but I’ll sit in the shade,” she said. “Sun damage caused my cancer. It could have been avoided.”
Claire emphasizes the importance of skin protection and regular checks. “A tan doesn’t last,” she noted. “But sun damage can.” Now, she feels “positive” about her progress and is grateful for the support she’s received, finding strength in raising awareness about skin cancer prevention.