AI Skin Cancer Screening Tool Saves A Life

An Unexpected Diagnosis

When 46-year-old Lynsey Robertson helped roll out a new AI skin cancer screening tool at the GP surgery where she worked, she saw it as just another part of her job. As an office manager at Buckshaw Village Surgery in Preston, Lancashire, she was curious about the new technology. Little did she know, this curiosity would lead to a life-changing discovery, making her one of the system's first and most critical patients.

Lynsey decided to test the AI by scanning a mole on her skin. It was a mark she had for years and largely ignored, though its color had been slowly changing. Like many, she dismissed it as nothing serious. "I'd had it for years," she said. "It wasn't causing me any trouble. I thought I'd be wasting the GP's time."

From Casual Curiosity to Urgent Action

Within hours, the system's casual test turned into a serious health alert. The AI technology flagged the lesion on Lynsey’s skin as high risk, triggering an urgent review under the NHS’s two-week suspected cancer pathway. Her referral was sent to Chorley Hospital that same day.

"I couldn’t believe it," she recalled. "I just kept thinking, what if I hadn’t said anything?"

Her initial fears were confirmed after minor surgery to remove the mole. Days later, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an aggressive and potentially deadly form of skin cancer that can spread quickly. A second successful procedure was required to ensure all cancerous cells were removed. Today, Lynsey is urging everyone not to ignore changes in their skin. Had she not tested the technology at her office, she says, “who knows what could have happened.”

The Technology Behind the Discovery

The life-saving technology was developed by Skin Analytics. Its system uses AI to analyze images of lesions and spot potential signs of skin cancer. The process is straightforward: a healthcare worker takes a high-quality image of a suspicious mole or patch of skin using a smartphone equipped with a special magnifying lens. The AI assesses the image, and any lesion flagged as potentially dangerous is reviewed by a dermatologist.

The software company claims an impressive 99.9 per cent accuracy in ruling out melanoma. According to Skin Analytics, its system is the world's first AI legally authorized to detect cancer without a doctor present.

AI's Growing Role in Modern Healthcare

This case highlights the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare, a trend that is gaining momentum across the NHS. Since 2020, the Skin Analytics technology has been used to assess over 170,000 NHS patients. This wider integration of AI has sparked debates around data security and potential data bias, but the government remains committed to its vision.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently stated, “The AI revolution is here, and we are arming staff with the latest ground-breaking technology, so patients get faster and smarter care.” The government's goal is to make the NHS the “most AI-enabled health system in the world.”

A Call for Vigilance and Innovation

The need for innovative solutions is clear. Urgent referrals for suspected skin cancer have skyrocketed in the UK, with over 17,000 people diagnosed with melanoma annually. Sadly, around 2,300 people die from the disease each year. A recent report from Cancer Research revealed that only half of UK cancer patients are diagnosed within the NHS's 28-day target.

Technologies like the one that saved Lynsey’s life may hold the key to improving these statistics. Polling by Skin Analytics found that 73 per cent of people believe the NHS has a duty to use proven technology to benefit patients, and 71 per cent think regulated AI could help slash long waiting times. Lynsey's story is a powerful testament to that potential.