'Our son's cancer was spotted by tattoo artist'
SuppliedA man whose skin cancer was first spotted by a tattoo artist has helped save lives, his family has said.
Tom Linton, from Chester-le-Street, was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 19.
It had developed from a mole on his arm, which was flagged by his tattoo artist, but Mr Linton did not know it was anything to worry about.
His family has been working with charity Melanoma-Me Foundation to raise awareness and said his story had helped save lives.
Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer which can spread to other parts of the body.
The Sunderland-based charity is offering training to professionals such as tattoo artists, barbers and physiotherapists to learn how to spot signs of the disease.
It hopes it will help with early detection, especially in hard-to-see areas like the back of the head and neck.
Mr Linton had booked his first tattoo appointment to get a tribute to his mother's experience with cystic fibrosis, when his tattoo artist flagged "something unusual" on his forearm.
It was only when he started his treatment in hospital that his family realised it could have been the first time the cancer was spotted.
SuppliedMr Linton's mother Amanda said he did not mention the mole sooner because he had not realised it was anything to worry about.
"We asked 'why he didn't get it checked out, why he didn't tell us'...but he said he didn't even know what melanoma was," Mrs Linton said.
"He just didn't think skin cancer happened to people his age."
Dad Steven Linton recalled getting the news in hospital.
"The doctor came in and had to bring in palliative care nurses. You just knew the news is going to be awful," he said.
"There was over a 50% survival rate at that point. So you grasp onto anything you can."
Mr Linton died at the age of 20.
'Not brush it off'
Melanoma-Me Foundation CEO Kerry Rafferty said there was a lack of awareness around skin cancer.
"Most people still think it's an older person's disease, but most people we work with are under the age of 50," she said.
"If we can get it into people's head about how melanoma presents, and it can happen to anyone...then if something is changing on someone's skin, they're not going to brush it off."
Ms Rafferty said the foundation's training had helped diagnose dozens of people.
Supplied"We're not saying the barber is going to diagnose the person, but they can bring it to their attention, and they can get it checked out," Ms Rafferty said.
"We've had over 70 people diagnosed with our training so far, so we know it has saved lives."
Melanoma-Me Foundation is also doing an annual festival in Mr Linton's honour, TomsFest, which takes place later at Park View School in Chester-le-Street.
The charity uses their social media pages to share Mr Linton's story and raise awareness.
His father said it had helped save lives.
"There's a man from around Norfolk who got checked out, because of seeing it on social media," he said.
"He was able to make a full recovery.
"Tom said 'if you can save just one life, it's all been worth it'."