Breast cancer detected by thermal imaging scan in Edinburgh Published duration 22 October 2019

image copyright Bal Gill image caption The thermal imaging camera showed that Ms Gill's breast was a different colour

A tourist has told of her "life-changing" visit to the Camera Obscura in Edinburgh after one of its thermal cameras detected she had breast cancer.

Bal Gill, 41, from Slough in Berkshire, was at the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions at the top of the Royal Mile with her family in May.

When she went into the museum's thermal imaging camera room she noticed her left breast was a different colour.

When she returned home she saw a doctor who confirmed she had breast cancer.

She discovered that thermal imaging cameras can be used as a tool by oncologists.

Early stage breast cancer

Thermography, also called thermal imaging, uses a special camera to measure the temperature of the skin on the breast's surface.

It is a non-invasive test that does not involve any harmful radiation.

Cancer cells grow and multiply very fast. Blood flow and metabolism are higher in a cancer tumour as blood flow and metabolism increase, which makes skin temperature rise.

image copyright Getty Images image caption The thermal camera was installed at Camera Obscura in 2009 and is a popular attraction

Ms Gill, a deputy-director of finance for a university, said: "We had been to Edinburgh Castle and on the way down we saw the museum.

"While making our way through the floors we got to the thermal imaging camera room. 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. I took a picture and we carried on and enjoyed the rest of the museum."

'Life-changing visit'

A few days later when the mother-of-two returned home she was flicking through her photographs and saw the image.

On Google she found a number of articles about breast cancer and thermal imaging cameras. She was later diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.

She has since had two surgeries, including a mastectomy, and has a final surgery in November. She has been told she will not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy afterwards.

"I just wanted to say thank you, without that camera I would never have known," she said. "I know it's not the intention of the camera but for me it really was a life-changing visit.

"I cannot tell you enough about how my visit to the Camera Obscura changed my life."

The Thermal Camera is a popular part of the Edinburgh attraction and lets visitors see a visual of all their body hot spots.

'Really moved'

Andrew Johnson, general manager of Camera Obscura and World of Illusions said: "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 and hope to meet her and her family in the future."

Dr Tracey Gillies, NHS Lothian medical director, said: "In the past thermal imaging cameras have been experimented with to detect cancer, however, this has never been a proven screening tool.