Despite heightened consciousness and strides in preventative measures, the occurrence of skin cancers, encompassing both melanoma and non-melanoma, persistently rises in Ireland. The Irish Cancer Society reports that 13,000 fresh skin cancer cases are diagnosed annually – a worrying statistic stressing the importance of consistent sun protection, routine skin examinations, and early recognition of potentially cancerous moles or growths.
Carrying out self-checks is key, adhering to the ABCDEs guidelines of moles: asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, and evolving. It is crucial to consult a medical expert if a mole begins to exhibit any of these attributes – transformation in form, edge, colour, or dimension – or if it persistently presents a blend of these parameters.
I recently observed a transformation in a slightly elevated freckle on my right forearm. It has been present as far as I can recollect, co-residing with numerous others. What was previously minor and circular began to smudge on one fringe, extending the boundary outwards, almost merging with a neighbouring freckle. There was no alteration on the surface – no haemorrhaging, crusting, or sensory changes – but it was indisputably progressing. With a family background of skin cancer, I was eager to have it examined.
Access to a dermatologist in Ireland can involve protracted waiting periods, sometimes up to a year or longer, despite possessing a GP referral letter. So, I turned to the internet. A diverse array of mole-mapping and skin examination services are accessible in Ireland without a referral, with Boots providing the most readily available service.
ScreenCancer’s mole-evaluation facility has been in operation for a number of years at certain outlets across the country. One can easily secure a booking using the online system at any nearby outlet within moments. The process, which spans around 20 minutes, is supervised by ScreenCancer, aided by the Boots pharmacy squad. Four moles, flecks, or lesions are the maximum number that can be reviewed in a single session. The initial inspection costs €45 while each consecutive examination is €25.
To employ this service, a customer needs to be at least 18 years old. Not all dermatological marks can be examined, restrictions include excessively hirsute areas, tattoed spots, and understandably, any bleeding or scabbed any spots.
The consultation is brief and trouble-free. The first segment, lasting between five to ten minutes, consists of a health questionnaire, managed by the pharmacist. It covers familial medical history, sun exposure frequencies, and specific details about what skin marks the patient wishes to be examined and the reasons behind it. A miniature, hand-held scanning machine, slightly larger than an average digital thermometer scans the selected area. An immediate, magnified image appears on a monitor to observe. Surveying an extreme-close up of one’s hairy limb can be surprising!
The pharmacist subsequently verifies if the scanned image accurately reflects the desired skin mark. On securing your confirmation, the digital scan is combined with the filled-out consultation form and dispatched to ScreenCancer’s team.
Three days after the screening, a text message lands on my phone, containing a link to my report from ScreenCancer. It came as a relief to learn that there was “no cause of concern found upon the dermoscopy of the freckle”.
The pharmacist notifies that the duration of report reception is a week, through a text message. Due to the popularity of the service and staff count, there might be restrictions on the daily appointment tally.
The pharmacist shares that numerous customers, who have been on a waiting list to see a dermatologist for over a year, received not only a diagnosis but also a treatment strategy from ScreenCancer, within a week of their mole scan. Owing to the severity of one case, ScreenCancer reached out the very following day.
Caoimhe McAuley, Boots’ pharmacy director and chief pharmacist, remarks that it’s more usual for ScreenCancer dermatological specialists to not deem a follow-up necessary after assessements. However, a small portion of the ScreenCancer reports do suggest further investigation or subsequent attention, which would generally be handled by a doctor, who would then potentially refer the case to a dermatologist. A note by ScreenCancer whether a scan presents suspicion or significant suspicion, along with phone consultation with a ScreenCancer health adviser, aids in ascertaining the speed of a potential referral or subsequent GP or doctor consultation.
No surprises that the service receives the most use during the summer months when more skin is exposed. Even with a rise in appointments during this period, it hasn’t affected appointment wait times. At my column’s writing time, it was possible to secure an online appointment within a few days depending on one’s location.
Three days post my appointment, I got a text from ScreenCancer containing a link to download my report in a PDF format if I wish. The report put me at ease with the comment about my freckle, stating that it had no alarming features when scrutinised using dermoscopy.
The cost is steep at €45 for either a freckle or mole check, but the speedy report and resultant reassurance overshadow the cost for me.