“I was afraid of being overcautious, and that almost cost me my life” – Jacqui’s Journey With Melanoma

When Jacqui, 54, from the UK, first noticed a small spot on her lower leg, she thought little of it. The mark had been there for years, and life was busy. It was only her eldest son’s persistence, gently reminding her that it looked different, that made her pause.

 

“I looked back at some old holiday photos and thought, yes, it is a bit bigger. And a bit darker,” Jacqui recalls. Still, she reassured herself that everything was fine.

 

A subtle change becomes a constant worry

 

As months passed, Jacqui found herself watching the spot more closely. It wasn’t painful, but it unsettled her. “I don’t go to the doctor often. I have to be really unwell before I make an appointment. But it took up more and more space in my mind,” she says.

 

The turning point came when the mark began to crust slightly and itch. Searching online for answers, Jacqui came across SkinVision, an app designed to help people check their skin for signs of skin cancer. Out of curiosity, and perhaps a little fear, she decided to try it.

 

A nudge towards action

 

She took a quick photo and sent it through the app. Soon after, she received a message: the result was high risk, and she should have it checked by a medical professional.

 

“At first, I didn’t even tell my son,” Jacqui admits. “He’d been nagging me for so long, and I kept saying, ‘I’ve already had it looked at. I can’t keep going back.’ But it played on my mind. Then SkinVision sent me a few friendly reminders, asking how I got on. That encouragement made me finally return for another check-up.”

 

This time, the spot had changed more noticeably. After a closer examination, her dermatologist explained his concern: “I think that’s malignant melanoma.”

 

Living with the diagnosis

 

The word “melanoma” was unfamiliar to Jacqui. She assumed it was a simple matter of removing the mole. But soon, she realised it was far more serious. Within days, she underwent urgent surgery on her ankle, followed by further procedures, including a skin graft and lymph node testing.

 

Her fears were confirmed: the disease had already spread to nearby lymph nodes. “That terrified me,” she says. What followed was a period of close monitoring, with regular scans and consultations with oncology teams.

 

The experience changed her daily life. Jacqui developed lymphoedema in her leg after surgery, which affected her confidence and even her acting career. Yet she also found strength in sharing her journey, determined that others might learn from it.

 

Afraid of being overcautious

 

For Jacqui, the hardest part wasn’t only the diagnosis, it was overcoming the fear of being seen as overcautious.

 

“I was so afraid of being a nuisance, of being overcautious,” she says. “But that’s what almost cost me my life.”

 

If she could give one piece of advice, it would be this: if something doesn’t look right, get it checked. And if you still don’t feel reassured, don’t stop there. “Go back. And go back again. Seek a second opinion if you’re still unsure,” Jacqui says.

 

Her persistence, helped along by SkinVision’s reminders, turned out to be the difference. “If it wasn’t for SkinVision, I honestly think I’d be stage four by now. That’s why I left my review in the first place, because if even one person reads my story and decides to get checked, then it was worth it. I owe all my heartfelt thanks to SkinVision and I am always recommending them to others.”

 

A lasting reminder

 

Today, Jacqui balances regular hospital visits with a determination to enjoy life: travelling, acting again and cherishing everyday moments. But melanoma, she admits, is “always there in the back of my mind. My first thought in the morning, my last thought at night.”

 

Her story carries a vital message: early detection saves lives. Paying attention, persisting when doubts remain and acting quickly can make all the difference.

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For more information, visit skinvision.com