We’ve all heard the dangers of tanning, but one Bakersfield teen is trying to get her peers to take the risk seriously.
Two years ago, we brought you the story of 17-year-old Brynna Thornberry’s battle with melanoma.
Now she’s speaking out again trying to make sure what happened to her doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Like so many teenagers, Brynna started tanning to look better for a school dance.
But after a few sessions, her life changed forever.
"I had stage 2, a malignant melanoma growing rapidly on my face. The one place no one ever wants to hear."
Two years later, you can see the scar it’s left behind.
A reminder of her attempt to feel better about how she looked.
And now she says she draws more attention to herself than she wants.
"What's worse is people will point it out, that's been the worst for me. When a woman pulls me aside and hands me a napkin saying I have makeup on my face, that I need to cover it up because it could distract others,” Brynna said.
But Brynna is far from alone in her battle with skin cancer.
According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults age 25 to 29.
The second most common among 15 to 29 year olds, and diagnosed cases have jumped 50% in young women since 1980.
"I feel guilty because I allowed that. I asked the doctor is this what it's from and there's no way of knowing but yes, tanning beds, sun exposure, it does accelerate those cells that are changing,” said Brynna’s mother, Cheri Thornberry.
And while looking at the pictures now, Brynna says she carries an emotional guilt that’s as permanent as the scar on her cheek.
But she hopes her story can save someone from making the mistake she did.
"I blame myself a lot of the time, but I can look back on it now and know I'm alive, I'm here, I can help other girls,” Brynna said.
Brynna says she’s still battling her melanoma.
She gets checked every few months but doctors are finding new moles that need surgery or cancer cells that are growing.
And she’s encouraging everyone to get checked out by a dermatologist at least once a year.
Two years ago, we brought you the story of 17-year-old Brynna Thornberry’s battle with melanoma.
Now she’s speaking out again trying to make sure what happened to her doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Like so many teenagers, Brynna started tanning to look better for a school dance.
But after a few sessions, her life changed forever.
"I had stage 2, a malignant melanoma growing rapidly on my face. The one place no one ever wants to hear."
Two years later, you can see the scar it’s left behind.
A reminder of her attempt to feel better about how she looked.
And now she says she draws more attention to herself than she wants.
"What's worse is people will point it out, that's been the worst for me. When a woman pulls me aside and hands me a napkin saying I have makeup on my face, that I need to cover it up because it could distract others,” Brynna said.
But Brynna is far from alone in her battle with skin cancer.
According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults age 25 to 29.
The second most common among 15 to 29 year olds, and diagnosed cases have jumped 50% in young women since 1980.
"I feel guilty because I allowed that. I asked the doctor is this what it's from and there's no way of knowing but yes, tanning beds, sun exposure, it does accelerate those cells that are changing,” said Brynna’s mother, Cheri Thornberry.
And while looking at the pictures now, Brynna says she carries an emotional guilt that’s as permanent as the scar on her cheek.
But she hopes her story can save someone from making the mistake she did.
"I blame myself a lot of the time, but I can look back on it now and know I'm alive, I'm here, I can help other girls,” Brynna said.
Brynna says she’s still battling her melanoma.
She gets checked every few months but doctors are finding new moles that need surgery or cancer cells that are growing.
And she’s encouraging everyone to get checked out by a dermatologist at least once a year.