A terminally ill former soldier in the United Kingdom claims that his skin cancer was caused by the Army failing to issue sun cream. The patient has also called on UK's Ministry of Defence to better protect military personnel.
Last December 2014, 44-year-old Lee Hall was diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma, which he said doctors believe to have stemmed from his years serving in Cyprus. His army chiefs, according to him, did not provide him with sunscreen or sunblock lotion.
While his bosses in the Army confirmed that his melanoma was indeed “attributable to service,” they insisted that sun cream is already being issued or made available to everyone serving in the military.
“He says he did not get it and that may be the case,” said an Army spokesperson in an interview, who added that Hall’s service happened a long time ago and it is unclear when policies were implemented.
“We were never offered, nor issued any sun cream,” asserted Hall, who echoed his doctors’ opinion that his cancer resulted from serving in hot countries.
For 12 years, Hall was a sapper with the Royal Engineers and the Royal Logistics Corps. He was assigned in Cyprus for three years starting in 1993.
The father of two and grandfather of three was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2012, and received news in October 2014 than his sickness has spread to other parts of his body. In December of the same year, doctors broke the news that his cancer was already terminal.
An Army spokesperson with the War Pensions Scheme expressed sympathy for Hall but insisted that all service personnel are given sun creams “of various strengths,” as well as briefing and training for environmental and health care considerations prior to deployment.
Hall said there was much less awareness of skin cancer back in the early 1990s during his service than today.
According to him, he is trying to increase this awareness by speaking out on the importance of getting moles checked – as he himself did not listen to his wife when she noticed how his own mole was getting bigger.
Hall, however, clarified that he is not holding anyone responsible nor does he hold any ill will toward the Army. “I loved my time in the Army and if I had my time again I would do it exactly the same, but this time I would wear sun cream,” he shared.
Melanoma is deemed as the most dangerous form of skin cancer. While moles, brown spots, and skin growths are typically harmless, they may be cancerous, with symptoms such as being asymmetrical, unevenly bordered, of various colors and changing in appearance.
Experts advise getting enough sun protection, avoiding the use of UV tanning beds, and regularly examining the skin for any sign of abnormality.
Photo: DVIDSHUB | Flickr
