When Karen Wellington agreed to take part in Bendigo Health’s Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis (ACEMID) trial last year, she thought it was all to help with research.
Little did she know, taking part may have saved her life.
The Cancer Services Nurse Unit Manager is one of 404 people to have taken part in the trial so far, and one of the eight to have confirmed melanoma spots found.
While the spot on the back of her neck was pre-cancerous, Karen said it was still a shock.
"If I hadn't had that scan, I suppose you'd feel like a ticking time bomb,” she said.
"I'm an oncology nurse. I'm experienced.
"But I thought, 'What does that mean?' You just go numb."
Bendigo Health was one of five sites to be chosen in the ACEMID study back in 2022.
During a session, a participant stands in a machine that uses artificial intelligence to create a 3D image of a patient’s body and maps any suspicious moles and lesions.
A specially trained nurse will then look at the photos and refer any significant spots to a dermatologist and GP.
Dr Robert Blum, the principal investigator on the ACEMID trial, said clinical trials in regional Victoria helped provide access to people who would otherwise need to travel to Melbourne for specialist care.
"We've got a lot of people that work outside, in farming,” he said.
"They come in with heavily damaged skin. Once that skin's been damaged, they're constantly having to get things checked and cut out.
“This program is using technologies to make the system more efficient by filling the gaps.”
For more info, visit: www.acrf.com.au/acemid