Skin Cancer Checks
There are three common types of skin cancer:
- BASAL CELL CANCER: appears as red, pale, or pearly flat or raised areas. It is the most common cancer. If not carefully removed, it will continue to slowly spread and cause large sores, although it doesn’t spread to the rest of the body.
- SQUAMOUS CELL CANCER: starts as a thickened or rough scaly red skin area. It is not as dangerous as melanoma but in some cases can be deadly.
- MELANOMA: mostly arises as a dark irregularly pigmented patch or lump on the skin. It can either arise in an existing mole or in a new area. Most cases can be successfully treated if caught early, but it can be fatal.
Sun exposure is the cause of more than 95 percent of skin cancers. The Australian climate and fair skin in particular are a poor mix, giving us the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Over 380,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, and over 1,600 die from it each year.
The good news is that more than 90 percent of skin cancers can be cured if treated early.
It is advisable to discuss your particular risk with your GP and plan regular skin surveillance. Some factors which increase the risk are having:
- fair skin that burns easily and does not tan;
- blue or green eyes and/or fair or red hair;
- suffered sunburn as a child;
- spent your childhood in Australia;
- a large number of freckles or moles;
- a family or personal history of skin cancer;
- used a solarium; and/or
- worked or spent a lot of leisure time in the sun.
- reached the age of 50 or older.
For more information visit the SunSmart website: http://www.sunsmart.com.au/
What to look out for:
- Something on your skin that bleeds or doesn’t heal.
- A new skin spot
- A change in the shape, size or colour of an existing freckle or mole.
What to expect from your skin check:
A standard 15 minute appointment needs to be made to enable a thorough skin examination.
You can ask for just one mole or one region to be checked, or to have a full skin check. Although sun exposure is the major risk factor for melanoma skin cancer, it can occur anywhere on the body, even where there has been no sun exposure. For this reason it is strongly recommended that a full check should be done.
For the whole body skin check you will be asked to undress to your underwear. You will be offered a gown or cover sheet to reduce your feeling of being exposed. Please also ask for the nurse to be present if you feel more comfortable.
Suspicious areas will be more closely examined with a dermoscope (magnifier).
One of several procedures might need to be done at another appointment.
Sometimes a small piece of the spot will be removed after numbing the area with local anaesthetic. Sometimes a photograph of the spot will be advised, to be followed up again after several months. In other cases, the whole of the spot will need to be cut out under local anaesthetic. This may either be done at the clinic or through referral to a specialist.
The fees relate to the time required. In most cases the examination fee is the same as our standard visit fee. For procedures the fee will be higher, but usually the gap that you pay after the medicare rebate will be less than $80.