Tan-loving beauty queen finalist in warning after cancer shock at 24

Amy Hills, a finalist in the Miss York contest taking place this week, got an artificial tan at least once a week and rarely bothered to use suncream as she strived for the golden brown look.

But during a routine visit to her doctor the dental student happened to mention a mole on her left arm, which she was born with, had begun to change in appearance.

Days later she was left horrified when tests confirmed it was cancerous.

But she has since undergone an operation to remove it and doctors are confident the disease has not spread.

Now she will have to undergo regular check-ups and has chosen to speak out in an attempt to warn other women tempted to take terrible risks to achieve the tanned look this summer.

Doctors are convinced the disease was due to a combination of using sunbeds for an artificial tan and her failure to use protective lotion when sunbathing outdoors.

Ms Hills, of Selby, said: "Like a lot of other young woman, I wanted to look good and so would go for a tan about once a week.

"And when I sunbathed, I wouldn't normally use suntan lotion. I thought it would never happen to me.

"But I noticed that the mole on my arm which I had always had had begun to change about six months ago. It was darker, raised and had a jagged edge. The doctor called in a colleague to have a look, and they both said it needed to be removed as a matter of urgency.

"When the test results came back saying it was cancer I was in a state of shock.

"The doctors said they were sure it was it was my sunbed sessions and sunbathing without lotion that had led to this."

She underwent surgery last week just hours before she took part in a "boot camp" style challenge as part of the build-up to the Miss York contest.

Doctors have told her she needs a check-up every three months for the next five years to ensure the potentially fatal cancer has not returned.

They also warned her off tanning salons for life and said she should always wear suntan lotion with a protection factor of at least 30 when she is exposed to sunshine.

She added: "It's left a dent on my arm which will always be there. They said to look at it as a badge of honour.

"They are very hopeful they have removed everything that is cancerous.

"But if I hadn't been to the doctor about something else, I might have left it for months more, which could have allowed it to spread further."