| Pre-existing awareness | Detecting and appraising change | Inferring illness | Deciding to seek help |
---|---|---|---|---|
Patient ID 5 [M, 83, EL 5] | *Grew up in hot climate and over-exposed to sunlight *Several moles removed some years ago *Friend and daughter recently treated for skin cancer | *Aware of mole for about 2 years | *'I thought it was something else' | *Noticed by GP *Felt 'alarm, and relieved that it had been noticed'. |
Patient ID 7 [M, 83, EL unknown] | *Worked outdoors 'all adult life, often with shirt off, which I regret now' *Many black moles on back | *Aware of mole in middle of forehead for 'a long while' 'had it for years' *New black mark in centre *'Its got bigger' | *'I kept thinking it was a birthmark' *It's still flat, not a lump' | *Noticed by GP |
Patient ID 12 [M, 61, EL3] | *Aware of danger of sun damage *Friend recently treated for skin cancer on face | *Aware of mole going darker 'months ago' *Compared mole with description of melanoma in paper but he and partner felt not similar | *Not easily visible so not concerned *Competing demands of self employment *Able to play golf so 'How can I be ill?' | *Young son suggested visit to doctor 'a couple of times' before made appointment |
Patient ID 19 [F, 79, EL 1] | *Lived in tropics for many years as adult *Wears suncream to play golf | *Noticed adjacent mole which is 'bigger and darker' about 1 year ago | Â | *Noticed by GP |