Don's mole had been on his shoulder for years. About the size of a 50 cent piece, it had never caused him any trouble, just a "scab that never really healed properly." It stayed on the list of things to deal with eventually.
At Don's place, eventually had a way of not arriving.
It took a trip overseas, a backpack strap, and his wife Lynne to change that. The shoulder mole was rubbing on the backpack strap during their travels, enough to be a "bloody nuisance". Not long after returning home, the couple arrived at Central Districts Field Days. When Lynne spotted FMG’s free skin check, she didn’t suggest Don go. She told him.
He's grateful she did.
A routine check that wasn't so routine
The nurse hadn't even looked at his shoulder when she said, "oh yes", and reached for her torch. Don had come in about one mole. But he left with two referrals, one for the shoulder he'd known about for years, and one for the spot on his nose he'd always assumed was a blackhead. It wasn’t a blackhead.
What followed took months: specialist appointments, biopsies, shoulder surgery, then nose surgery. One he'd half expected; the other was a complete surprise. Both were basal cell carcinomas, and both were caught in time.
Don is pragmatic about all of it. The shoulder mole had become a "damn nuisance anyway". But he's clear about what the experience taught him: a mole that isn't causing problems and a mole that isn't a problem are not always the same thing.
Bringing skin checks to rural communities
FMG has partnered with Melanoma New Zealand to bring skin checks and early detection into rural communities. Through the partnership, FMG brings Melanoma New Zealand's tools, information and expertise to A&P shows, community events, and larger regional Field Days where Melanoma NZ clinicians are on the ground performing free spot checks and talking to farmers and growers directly about how to stay safe. No appointment or referral; just a conversation that could change things.
For Don, that conversation changed everything. And he and his wife Lynne are grateful, saying, "We really want to thank FMG for the service."
That's exactly why the Spot Check Roadie exists. Because the best health check is the one that actually happens.
Why it matters
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, with around 6,000 New Zealanders diagnosed every year. Melanoma accounts for nearly 80 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Farmers, growers and rural communities are among the most at-risk groups, spending long days outdoors across every season.
Early detection makes a significant difference in outcomes. The challenge is that many people, particularly in rural areas, are unlikely to visit a GP for something they've convinced themselves isn't worth the trip.
Don understands that because he was one of them. "I suspect there are many farmers who won't go to the doctor," he says. "So, this kind of service is a real alternative. Get it checked. It didn't cost anything and it was easy. You might even get a free biscuit from FMG too."
Find out when the Spot Check Roadie is next in your region here.
