Mom, 42, reveals how years of 'worshipping sun' on girls trips caused stage 3 cancer

Mom, 42, reveals how years of “worshipping sun” on girls trips caused stage 3 cancer highlights how a long-ago tanning culture may have had lasting consequences. Sarah Goldup, a UK freelance copywriter, said she never used sunbeds, but in her late teens and twenties took frequent trips abroad that prioritized getting a tan. One trip to Tenerife at age 19 left her severely burnt because she used oil instead of sunscreen, despite her Irish heritage making her more prone to burning. She noticed a changing mark on her neck in her teens but only sought medical review when it altered in shape and color. Diagnosed with stage three melanoma at 38, she underwent two surgeries and began a year of immunotherapy in August. After a recurrence confirmed in November 2024, she had surgery to remove 35 lymph nodes, with 25 cancerous, then started combination immunotherapy in April 2025 for three months, continuing maintenance until April 2027. Her scans have been clear since. She is married to Lee Goldup and has two sons.