Bal Gill was looking forward to going on a vacation to Edinburgh, Scotland, with her husband and their children. She had planned every tiny detail of the trip to ensure everything went smoothly, and she was confident that her vacation would go without a hitch.
Little did she know that going on this trip would be a huge mistake.
The Beginning
Bal, her husband, and their children decided to visit Edinburgh, Scotland, over the long weekend.
Their vacation started off seemingly ordinary, but by the end of the trip, Bal would find herself in tears.
At The Destination
The Gills instantly fell in love with the city's history, friendly locals, and nature. But soon, they would regret visiting Edinburgh.
Had Bal not made this one decision, none of this would've happened. It all started when her son asked her to check out Camera Obscura & World of Illusions in Edinburgh.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions in Edinburgh
The museum featured mirror gazes, a vortex tunnel, several optical illusions, and other exciting things. So, of course, Bal agreed to go, knowing her children were going to love it.
So, the next day after having breakfast, Bal, her husband, and their children headed to the Camera Obscura, preparing to have a good time. Bal had no idea how this one decision would turn her life upside down.
At The Museum
When the Gills entered the museum, they were immediately impressed by its effects and neon colors. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before!
As Bal was about to take a seat, her son called her name from another room.
Better Together
She followed his voice and started walking towards him. Since the area was quite dark, she could barely see anything.
After a few minutes of walking around, Bal finally spotted her son sitting in the corner. He explained that he had found a cool room upstairs but was too afraid to go in alone. So, Bal took his hand, and together, they entered the mysterious room. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
In The Room
As they entered the hidden room, Bal quickly realized why her son didn't want to go in alone. Something felt off, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Then, her son suddenly shouted: "Mom! Mom! There's a thermal imagery camera room behind this door! Can we go there?"
The Thermal Imagery Camera Room
Bal didn't think much of it, and together with her son, they opened the mysterious door. He was right. It was a thermal imagery camera room, and to her surprise, it was full of people.
The people were looking at their images and lifting their arms. Her son joined the loud crowd, and so did Bal. And what she saw next left her at a loss for words.
A Strange Spot
Bal started moving her arms and legs and waving them in the air like everyone else. But, when she glanced at her image on the camera, she saw a strange spot on her chest area.
No one else in the room had anything similar to what she had just discovered on her body. Confused, Bal took a photo of her thermal image and decided to show it to her husband. But, what she saw next was even more bizarre.
Feeling Worried
Bal couldn't stop thinking about the strange spot she saw on her chest. So, when she returned to England, she decided to research it.
And what she learned from her research shocked her to the core. Bal immediately called her family doctor and scheduled an appointment.
Breast Cancer
Bal had breast cancer. When the doctor confirmed the diagnosis, she broke into tears. Why did this have to happen to her? And why didn't she have any symptoms?
However, Bal felt fortunate to have discovered cancer at its current stage. "I just wanted to say thank you: Without that camera, I would never have known," she said.
Feeling Lucky
"I know it's not the intention of the camera, but for me, it was a life-changing visit. I cannot tell you enough about how my visit to the Camera Obscura changed my life."
And what the doctors revealed next gave her some hope.
Thermal Cameras Aren't Reliable
Bal's cancer was caught in its very early stage, and her prognosis looks good. However, medical professionals warn women not to rely on thermal images for breast cancer diagnosis.
"We have a technology that is tried and true in saving women from breast cancer, and thermography is not that technology," Dr. Rachel Brem told NBC News
Mammography
"Mammography is the only imaging modality that has demonstrated an unequivocal and remarkable reduction in the death rate of breast cancer."
Bal is glad she agreed to go with her son to the museum that day. Had she not checked the thermal camera room at Camera Obscura, who knows where she would've been now.
The Second Leading Cause of Death
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death of women in the United States. This is why it's so important to schedule annual screenings to reduce the risk of dying from the disease.
Medical professionals advise women to begin having mammograms every year at age 40.