Skin Cancer

About Skin Cancer

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. It occurs when damaged skin cells do not replicate correctly during the normal course of repair. These new irregular cells can trigger DNA mutations or genetic defects that multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.

Who can Skin Cancer Affect?

Skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers. Approximately, 66% of Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer, this almost three times the rate seen in the US or the UK. Annually, over 750,000 people are treated for non-melanoma skin cancers in Australia. These non-melanoma skin cancers are twice as common in men. Melanoma skin cancer affects over 12,000 Australians annually, it is the most common cancer among Australian between 15-44 years.

Risk Factors for Skin Cancer

Every Australian is at risk of skin cancer, though the risk increases as you get older.

Prior Diagnosis: People who have had a skin cancer previously are at risk for developing others over the years, either in the same area or elsewhere on the body.
Exposure to Sunshine: Both long-term sun exposure over your lifetime and occasional extended, intense exposure (typically leading to sunburn) combine to cause damage that can lead to skin cancer
Age: The incidence increases for both males and females over 50 years old, but as the number of new cases has increased sharply each year in the last few decades, the average age of patients at onset has steadily decreased.
Genetic Factors;
Fair skin
Blond or Red hair
Blue, Green, or Grey eyes
Family history of skin cancer

Skin Cancer Checks

Skin Cancer Facts

Skin Cancer or Skin Carcinomas are malignant, abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin.

90% of skin cancers are due to overexposure to UV light, either from the sunlight or solariums. The best way to survive skin cancer Is early diagnosis and treatment.

Unfortunately they are very common and 66% Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before they turn 70. This is almost three times the rate seen in the US or the UK.

What is a Skin Cancer Check?

There is currently no formal screening program for skin cancers in Australia. It is recommended that people become familiar with their skin. If you notice any changes consult your doctor.

It is generally recommended that you have a skin cancer screening test once every two years. This should be performed more regularly if you are at higher risk of developing skin cancers. Higher risk patients are those mentioned below.

If you notice any of these changes, arrange an appointment with our Doctors for a skin check immediately.

During a skin check our doctor will closely examine your moles and other skin lesions with a specialised instrument known as a dermatoscope to aid early detection of changes of skin cancers, and advise on possible treatment options.

Skin Cancer Education:

Knowledge is power, which is why we want you to know what lesions to look out for and how to protect yourself and your family. Many patients have identified skin cancer on their friends and family members after their skin check appointment with us.

Full Skin Cancer Checking Service;

As part of this service, one of our trained staff perform a systematic total body check and generates digital dermoscopic and total body images:

A doctor will then examine each patient to check each mole and lesion on their skin. They will discuss a treatment program if required, and advise on the best long term management and prevention.
Some treatment may be performed during this skin check appointment if necessary and the patient requests it.

Each total body skin check takes up to half an hour and is advised for everyone over the age of 18 on an annual basis.

Surgical Excision:

Surgical removal or excision of skin cancers is the most common treatment.

Non-melanoma skin cancers are almost always surgically removed under local anaesthetic and this is the safest form of treatment due to the potential of Basal or Squamous Cell Carcinomas to spread.

This approach offers:

high cure rates
Is immediate,
Lesions are sent off for histology and margins are checked to ensure complete clearance

In more advanced skin cancers, some of the surrounding tissue may also be removed to make sure that all of the cancerous cells are cleared.

Excision Treatment Process:

After careful administration of local anaesthetic, the Doctor uses a scalpel to remove the entire growth, along with surrounding apparently normal skin as a safety margin. The wound around the surgical site is then closed with sutures (stitches).

Excision Treatment Recovery

For a few days post excision there may be minor bruising and swelling. Scarring is usually minimal. Pain or discomfort is minor. Typically, where sutures are used, they are removed soon afterwards.

Surgical Excision Prognosis

Studies indicate the cure rate for primary tumours with this technique is around 92 percent. Clearance rates for recurrent Basal or Squamous Cell Carcinomas are lower around 77 percent

Early detection of skin cancer:

Mole Mapping and Video Dermoscopy

Early detection: The best protection against skin cancer Skin cancer is curable if it is detected early enough.

The biggest risk factors are excessive exposure to UV rays or a family history of skin cancer.

We help you to document your moles, particularly in areas you are unable to see. Therefore, we use state-of-the-art FotoFinder technology for mole mapping and video dermoscopy.

Skin cancer prevention with FotoFinder:

Skin cancer can develop from moles that have been inconspicuous for years, or suddenly appear on healthy skin. Therefore, have your skin visualized regularly and on a follow-up basis with state-of-the-art technology!

Skin cancer prevention with FotoFinder provides:

Long-term and complete documentation of the entire skin and every single mole
Regular check-ups show new and changed moles at an early stage
Mole-localization from head to toe and analysis of lesions
Less unnecessary excisions

Analysis with leading technology: Video documentation

During the examination, we first take overview pictures of your skin. Then we use the video dermatoscope to take microscopic images of atypical moles, which can be pre-assessed and analyzed.

The digital storage of your skin images enables an objective comparison of previous and current skin findings during regular check-ups so that we can visualize even smallest changes.

You can follow your past and present examinations effortlessly on screen.

The A-B-C-D-E of moles

Please inform us if one of your moles shows any of the following characteristics:

Asymmetry: irregular shape
Borders: blurred, fringed, jagged
Colour: irregular colour, e. g. dark brown, black brown, reddish, grey-white areas
Diameter: bigger than 5 millimeters
Elevation: uneven surface
Evolution: changes of the mole

Am I a high-risk patient?

If you can answer “YES” to any of these questions, please contact us!

Do you have fair skin that is sensitive to sunlight?
Do you have a particularly large number of moles?
Do you have large congenital nevi?
Do you have atypical moles or moles that have recently changed?
Did you get sunburn as a child or adolescent?
Is there a history of skin cancer in your family?
Did you already have skin cancer?
Are you exposed to strong sunlight or UV rays at regular intervals?

Particular caution with:

Newly developed moles
Changes in colour, e. g. lighter, darker, new shades
Increase or decrease of size, thickness or elevation
Bleeding moles  Changes in the surrounding area of moles, e. g. redness, white colouration, swelling
Discomfort, e. g. itching, burning, foreign body sensation

Don’t give skin cancer a chance!

We use FotoFinder, the leading system for long-term skin cancer imaging. Please contact us for details regarding costs and benefits of an examination.