Manchester woman who campaigned for sunbed controls dies of melanoma at 30
Chelsea Tantum, from Manchester, has died aged 30 after melanoma spread throughout her body, including to her brain. Diagnosed at 28 after years of regular sunbed use, she campaigned for stricter controls to protect young people and raise awareness of skin cancer.
Tantum said she began using sunbeds at 15 to compete with friends for the darkest tan, and was not asked for identification. She called for mandatory ID checks for under-18s and raised more than £4,000 for Melanoma Focus. The Government announced plans in May for compulsory ID checks and tighter supervision at tanning salons in England.
- Chelsea Tantum died aged 30 after melanoma spread to her brain.
- She began using sunbeds at 15 and campaigned for tighter restrictions.
- She raised more than £4,000 for Melanoma Focus.
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Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Exposure to ultraviolet light, from the sun or sunbeds, increases the risk; a tan is a sign that the skin has been damaged.
In England, people under 18 are already prohibited from using commercial sunbeds. Chelsea Tantum said she began using them at 15 without being asked for identification, and later campaigned for stronger safeguards and greater awareness of skin cancer.
Her campaign focused on checking customers’ ages and supervising tanning salons. The Government announced plans for compulsory ID checks and tighter supervision in England, making the issue one of how to enforce protections for young people.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Woman who ‘used sunbeds to compete with her friends for the best tan’ dies of skin cancer aged 30”.