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When Jack Channells was asked to give a painting quote at the home of a melanoma survivor, the chance meeting may have been life-saving.
Jack, 32, who has a painting business, visited the home of Jay Allen several weeks ago, not knowing his extensive advocacy work in skin cancer prevention.
"As I was about to leave he asked me what I had at the back of my neck," said Jack.
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"I said mate, is that paint at the back of your neck, black paint? He says nah it's a mole, I've had it checked, it's all good," explained Jay.
Jack Channells went to a GP four years ago and results from a shave biopsy came back benign.
But Jay, a melanoma survivor and founder of the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation wasn't going to give up.
"I'm not an expert but I think you should get that thing cut off," he told Jack.
He took a photo of the mole, sent it to an expert he knew and rang several clinics in the local area to get Jack an urgent appointment.
Jack's mole was removed that week and further testing confirmed it was a melanoma.
"Everyone seems to think it's not going to happen to them, but here we are," said Jack.
This week, he underwent further testing including a PET scan and several lymph nodes needed to be removed.
His case raises questions about how a mole that was initially deemed benign could turn deadly within four years and if GP training is adequate.
"Your GP is your first port of call. If you're concerned, get a second opinion," said Dr Nicole Higgins, President, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
"Melanomas change very quickly and very rapidly. So if anyone notices a change in a skin lesion, it must get checked out," she said.
Jack said family and friends did express concern, but he was ignorant of the consequences.
"Definitely, get a second opinion if you're not happy," he said.
He counts his lucky stars that his chance meeting with Jay led to action.
"Given his role, I was pretty adamant I needed to get it checked out," he said.
"I really feel I was meant to meet Jack that day," said Mr Allen. "Hopefully we saved his life."
"People will see this story and it might prompt them to get their skin checked as well," said Mr Allen, who received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021 for his work in skin cancer awareness and fundraising.
