Routine hearing test picks up Cancer
A routine hearing test at Specsavers Audiologists resulted in a pensioner being diagnosed with skin cancer
Geoff Harrison (73) from Coventry has regular hearing tests and asked his audiologist to have a look at a large lump on the back of his ear during the appointment.
Audiologist and store director Toby Sutton suspected that the lump was a melanoma and advised Geoff to visit his GP to have the lump assessed.
Geoff’s doctor referred him to a dermatologist where tests confirmed he had skin cancer on his right ear.
‘I was in shock,’ said Geoff. ‘I didn’t expect the specialist to say I needed to have it removed – it took me by surprise.’
After discussions with several specialists and oncologists, Geoff decided to undergo ten days of radiotherapy to destroy the cancer cells and ensure they didn’t spread any further.
Geoff said: ‘I was given the option to undergo immediate surgery at the hospital to remove the melanoma, or take part in radiotherapy which seemed far less invasive. I chose to go with radiotherapy and had a few treatments. I visited the oncologist a few months later and he was satisfied that the cancer hadn’t spread.
‘I am so grateful to Toby for his thorough examination and for his swift thinking. I had noticed the lump pop up three months prior and had Toby not pushed me to visit my doctor, I don’t think I would have realised how serious it was.’
Toby said: ‘I’m just pleased that Geoff has made a full recovery. His story serves as an important reminder to stay up to date with all your health check-ups. A hearing test is a valuable health check for customers over 50 – and as you can see from Geoff’s case audiologists try and be as comprehensive as possible and refer to other health professionals where needed. If a problem is picked up early, prompt treatment can make all the difference.’
Book a free hearing check at Specsavers Audiologists at www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing
