When Physiotherapy Detects Early Stages of Cancer

At one of our Back in Action UK on-site clinics, a clinician was treating an employee who regularly attended for musculoskeletal support. During a routine appointment, the clinician noticed several moles on the patient’s back that appeared clinically suspicious, something unrelated to the reason for his visit. The patient had previously been seeing a chiropractor who had not been concerned by these.

The clinician raised her concerns, advising the employee to seek prompt medical assessment. He followed this advice and soon after underwent investigations, leading to the removal of several moles. He was later informed that these represented the early stages of skin cancer. Thanks to early detection, these lesions were treated before progressing further.

The employee has now returned to work in a desk‑based capacity while his wound continues to heal, and the clinician has supported his recovery throughout by reviewing and adjusting his workstation for comfort. The patient has expressed significant gratitude for the timely intervention, and his experience has prompted increased awareness among his family members, with his father‑in‑law also seeking mole checks. Our clinician continues to champion early detection and has since signed up to “Map My Mole” within her clinic to support wider patient safety and public health awareness.

This case demonstrates the wider value of our onsite physiotherapy services. Our clinicians are well positioned to identify health concerns beyond musculoskeletal issues, supporting early detection, safety, and wellbeing across our sites.