Ian lens hand to beat melanoma
Photographer snaps dodgy moles to tackle cancer
A PHOTOGRAPHER who has suffered from skin cancer is taking snaps of other people’s suspicious moles in a bid to get lifesaving diagnoses.
Kenny Macfarlane and his mum, dad and close friend all developed malignant melanomas – a type of skin cancer that can kill.
The 59-year-old had five suspicious moles removed, one of which was cancerous, and is due to have two more taken out of his arm and shoulder.
Because of the pandemic, it can be harder to see a GP for a face-to-face check-up, so taking a clear photograph of a mole and emailing it to doctors can help the referral process to begin more quickly. So Kenny offered to take professional pics of moles and markings for free to people who live in the Battlefield area of Glasgow. The photos can be taken in public places, gardens or in homes, with his partner stepping in to help where needed. Less that 24 hours after announcing his mission, one woman had a photo of a mole taken, that was sent to medics and passed to dermatologists for further inspection.
Kenny hopes other photographers will join his mission. He said: “Taking a photo of a mole is so simple for me to do, yet it can help stop potentially terrible things happening.
“Getting your moles checked is so important. A good friend of mine died a couple of years ago after brushing off a mole that got darker.
“A lot of people don’t want to pester doctors with moles, especially during the pandemic. But malignant melanoma can kill.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We would never ask a patient to take their own picture if they were uncomfortable or not in a position to be able to do so.”