‘Get regular skin cancer checks’
A ‘she’ll be right’ attitude and pretending something is not there when an issue arises is the wrong attitude, a north Auckland grandfather says.
Grant Kearney, 54, is asking all Kiwi blokes when the last time they had a mole check was, following a Melanoma scare.
Six years ago the Manly resident noticed a minute growth on his neck.
‘‘It was black, and every year it poked out a bit further.
‘‘I just left it and left it, hoping it would go away,’’ Kearney said.
Then when the growth had reached around five centimetres this year, the storeman’s boss noticed it.
‘‘My boss put the fear of God into me by saying that it looked bad, and I should do something about it ASAP.’’
Kearney booked an appointment with a skin specialist, but couldn’t get one for five days, so was left with a ‘nervous’ wait.
Each year more than 4000 Kiwis are diagnosed with Melanoma, and each year 300 people die of the disease. Studies have shown men in their 50s are twice as likely to develop, and die, from Melanoma, partly due to them being less likely to perform self checks or visit specialists.
‘‘Because we don’t go until it is too late - I am guilty of doing that.
‘‘Looking back it was a stupid and foolish thing to do as it could have been worse,’’ Kearney said.
A skin specialist gave Kearney the all clear, a stern word for leaving it so long to be checked, and removed the growth.
Following the scare, he is working to raise awareness for people to get themselves checked.
To do so he is shaving his head at the Man Cave barber shop in Silverdale on November 4, and has set up the givealittle.co.nz/ fundraiser/grantmelanoma page. All funds go straight to Melanoma New Zealand.
Kearney has set a goal to raise $1000, but says he’s not worried if people don’t want to donate. He just wants people to share his message.
‘‘Don’t leave it. Have regular check-ups - it just could save your life.’’
Kearney usually has just one haircut a year, prior to warmer weather setting in, but has never shaved his head.
He’s wondering what lumps and scars his locks may be hiding.
As a kid, if I fell off my bike, or fell out of a tree, I always landed on my head. So I am a bit worried about what is under there.’’