Case study: ‘A five-minute appointment with the doctor saved my life’

Published on 24/07/2012 00:00

JAMES Coxson, 56, knows from personal experience how important it is to detect skin cancer early and says a five-minute appointment with his GP saved his life.

The art curator was diagnosed with malignant melanoma last year, shortly after noticing a small brown mark on his right cheek.

Mr Coxson, of Edinburgh, said: “I have pale skin but I’ve never been a sun worshipper and haven’t spent very much time in hot countries so I never thought for a minute that I was at risk of skin cancer.

“At the end of last year, I noticed the mark on my face was getting bigger and darker. Some of my friends noticed and suggested I go to the doctor.

“My GP referred me to the dermatology unit in Edinburgh, where they operated the same day. When the biopsy results came back, I was told that it was a melanoma.

“Like so many Scottish men, I probably wouldn’t have gone to the doctors and so I am really grateful to my friends for encouraging me to do so.

“I do think the five-minute appointment with the doctor saved my life.”