Australians have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Early detection through regular skin checks is still the best cure for skin cancer.
Our aim is to provide best-practice care in skin cancer management.
Our skin service is unique because we offer you rapid access to skilled doctors and specialist equipment for skin surveillance and an on-site operating theatre for timely and cost-effective surgery.
Most importantly all cancer surgery is performed by a Specialist Surgeon to ensure the best cosmetic results, complete cancer removal and timely return to your normal activities.
Please contact us on 0401 792 644, Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer develops when a skin cell goes through a series of changes that make it a cancer cell. Exposure to UV radiation from the sun and other sources (such as solariums) is the main factor that causes skin cells to become cancer cells.
Most skin cancers can be successfully treated, if detected early.
Skin cancers don’t all look the same, but there are some signs to look out for:
- a spot that is different from other spots on the skin
- a spot, mole or freckle that has changed in size, shape or colour
- a sore that doesn’t heal
- a spot that bleeds or itches
Why have a skin check?
Skin cancer is usually diagnosed by a Specialist who examines the skin, often using a hand held microscope (dermatoscope). Skin cancer specialists are more likely to detect melanomas and other skin cancers at a thinner stage than either the patient or the patient’s partner.
Over 60% of melanomas detected are not presented as a concern by the patient. Early detection has been proven to save lives and minimise surgery.
Why choose us?
Our skin service is unique because we offer you rapid access to skilled doctors and specialist equipment for skin surveillance and an on-site operating theatre for timely and cost-effective surgery.
Most importantly all cancer surgery is performed by a Specialist Surgeon to ensure the best cosmetic results, complete cancer removal and timely return to your normal activities.
What to expect at your skin check appointment?
A full skin check is conducted with a head to toe examination of the skin using dermatoscopy. The dermatoscope uses a polarized light to view specific moles at magnification.
Each skin lesion is viewed through the dermatoscope in turn and compared with other skin lesions, to make a diagnosis. Whilst most lesions are benign -sunspots, seborrhoeic keratosis and moles; our aim is to establish whether a skin lesion should be removed to rule out a melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or other type of skin cancer.
When a definite diagnosis of a benign lesion cannot be made confidently, the lesion is then re-examined a second time.
There are three outcomes from the re-examination of lesions:
- No monitoring required.
- Monitor the lesion for any changes at a follow up appointment (between 1 and 3 months)
- Biopsy is required. A biopsy involves removing a sample of cells (under local anaesthetic) and examining these cells under a microscope. This is booked at a later time and the lesion sent for histology.
