Tourist discovers breast cancer through chance visit to Edinburgh museum
Bal GIll spotted the unusual mark on a thermal imaging camera
Thermal imaging cameras in Edinburgh's Camera Obscura & World of Illusions helped tourist a woman discover she has breast cancer.
Bal Gill, originally from Slough in Berkshire, visited the Royal Mile museum in May with her family.
It's well known for its exhibits - including a thermal imaging camera, where Bal first noticed something was wrong.
She said: “As all families do, we entered and started to wave our arms and look at the images created.
"While doing this I noticed a heat patch coming from my left breast. We thought it was odd and having looked at everyone else they didn’t have the same”
The 41-year-old checked online and made an appointment with a doctor, before discovering she had breast cancer.
Fortunately it was found during the early stages and Bal is currently going through treatment.
Thermal imaging cameras like the ones used by Camera Obscura are also used by oncologists in order to provide a look at the temperature of a person’s skin.
Cancer cells grow and multiply fast, which means blood flow and metabolism in cancerous areas are increased which affects skin temperature.
Bal is now thanking bosses at Camera Obscura: “Without that camera I would never have known. I know its not the intention of the camera but for me it really was a life-changing visit."
Andrew Johnson is Camera Obscura’s general manager said this “We did not realise that our thermal camera had the potential to detect life-changing symptoms in this way.
"We were really moved when Bal contacted us to share her story as breast cancer is very close to home for me and a number of our team.
"It’s amazing that Bal noticed the difference in the image and crucially acted on it promptly. We wish her all the best with her recovery."
Hear all the latest news from across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk on Forth 1. Listen on FM, via the Rayo app, on DAB or on your smart speaker.