'I just had this gut instinct': How a stranger's decision to ask a mother about a tiny mole on her arm led to a shock cancer diagnosis
- Bronwyn Poulton, 33, was at a fundraiser when she was approached by stranger
- Jay Allen noticed a tiny mole on Ms Poulton's arm and questioned her about it
- The mother-of-two had it tested at a Sydney clinic and learnt it was melanoma
A stranger's decision to question a mother-of-two about a mole on her arm led to a shock cancer diagnosis that might have saved her life.
Bronwyn Poulton, 33, was at a Sydney cancer fundraiser when she was approached by a stranger who was a melanoma survivor.
Jay Allen noticed a tiny mole on Ms Poulton's arm and despite some reluctance he approached her about it.
'I just had this gut instinct to go over to her and say look I'm not an expert but have you ever had that mole checked?' Mr Allen told Nine News.
Bronwyn Poulton (pictured) was approached by a stranger at a fundraiser who questioned her about a mole on her arm
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He then introduced her to a couple who lost their son who was in his 20s to melanoma and the Sydney mother-of-two realised she needed to get it checked.
Ms Poulton visited a skin clinic a few days later and had the mole which was less than one millimetre deep removed.
'He suspected melanoma so he took it out that day, got it tested and it was,' she said.
The mother-of-two had it removed and tested a few days later. The results confirmed it was melanoma
Ms Poulton says she wishes she had it checked earlier and is currently undergoing tests to see whether the cancer has spread.
Australia and New Zealand have the highest melanoma rates in the world with most cases in young people aged from 15 to 39 years old.
It is the third most common cancer in Australia and kills more young people than any other form of cancer.
Jay Allen (pictured) is a melanoma survivor and noticed a tiny mole on Ms Poulton's arm before approaching her
