"Discovering I had skin cancer turned out to be an unexpected gift this Christmas when I learned from my biopsy results that the cancer was gone—it felt truly amazing!"
This is the heartfelt sentiment of Elizabeth Roe, who initially brushed aside a persistent concern about a mark on her left shin. However, after tuning in to BBC Radio Derby’s special broadcasts about Sun Safe initiatives in June—part of a campaign honoring the late presenter Colin Bloomfield, who tragically lost his battle with melanoma in 2015—she decided it was time to take action.
At 75 years old and residing in Spondon, Derby, Mrs. Roe learned that she had skin cancer, but fortunately, it was detected at an early stage. Thanks to timely medical intervention, she received the all-clear following a necessary procedure.
During her morning routine, while listening to Andy Twigge on BBC Radio Derby’s breakfast show discussing free skin checks, Mrs. Roe felt inspired. "It struck me as the perfect chance to address that nagging issue regarding my skin. It’s so easy to push these health concerns to the back of your mind," she shared.
"I told myself enough was enough; I needed to see a specialist and get to the bottom of this concern." Motivated by that revelation, she participated in a skin check event held in Chaddesden Park in May, where she was subsequently referred to the hospital for the removal of a skin lesion on her left shin the following month.
The results confirmed her diagnosis of cancer, leading to a second procedure aimed at determining whether the cancer had spread further. Thankfully, the outcome from this second round of tests came back clear, and Mrs. Roe now considers herself "one of the fortunate ones."
She passionately encourages others to be vigilant about their skin health: "If you notice anything unusual, don’t hesitate to get it checked out!"
Reflecting on her experience, Mrs. Roe stated, "I owe so much to Radio Derby and the Colin Bloomfield campaign. I am forever grateful. Without their outreach, I could still be wondering whether to seek help or not. Going through those procedures was daunting, but receiving the all-clear felt even more rewarding than winning the lottery!"
In collaboration with the charity Skcin, the campaign has successfully educated 15,000 primary school children on sun safety and provided training for thousands of outdoor workers. Across Derbyshire, over 600 people took part in skin checks, with 120 individuals being referred for further treatment.
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