At the tourist attraction, there was a thermal imaging camera that is used to show heat spots. However, upon reviewing her photos, Gill noticed a heat patch over her breast. She then later did some research on her own and found articles suggesting that the heat patch could potentially be a sign of breast cancer.
This self-diagnosis was later proven to be true when Gill made an appointment with her doctor who confirmed that she had early stage breast cancer. In a letter published to Camera Obscura’s website, Gill thanked them for indirectly helping her. “I have now had two surgeries and have one to go to prevent it from spreading. I just wanted to say thank you: without that camera, I would never have known. I know it’s not the intention of the camera but for me, it really was a life-changing visit.”
That being said, some experts have chalked it up to luck because in the past, thermal imaging was used to help detect breast cancer, but it was found to be not particularly effective, so for this camera to be able to pick up on it was a stroke of luck.