Skin cancer is a major problem in Australia. 

There are 3 major different types and each has different contributing factors. We have an excellent record at early detection and treatment.

The types are

	Melanoma
	SCC which stands for squamous cell carcinoma
	BCC which stands for basal cell carcinoma

The above listing orders them also in terms of their seriousness which can essentially be explained along with causative / associative factors as

Melanoma

Very serious with over 1000 lives lost each year in Australia. This is a very rapid growing skin cancer which starts as a mole that undergoes a change ( this may be in size, colour, irregularity, swelling, or bleeding – and not as once thought as blackening). Alternatively it may start from normal skin and look nothing more serious than a pimple in its first few weeks. Again in advancing age it will be seen as a pigment spot on the skin which then commences to grow in a very irregular pattern. All melanomas can be recognised very easily with a skin microscope called a dermatoscope – which we have. Melanomas occur at every age from the teens but with increasing frequency with age. They are caused primarily by UV light

We offer the facility of immediate removal of any suspicious lesion. The sample is sent to our laboratory. and if there is any sign of melanoma it is then sent on to the pathology section of . If a positive result is found, we refer or make an offer of referral to the melanoma unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney for further treatment. Integrated after care then occurs between the unit and ourselves.

See our statistics below

See preventing skin cancer below

SCC

This often starts in long standing untreated sunspots, but can also start afresh and grow quite rapidly in 4 to 8 weeks to something the size of 3 or 4 peas on the surface of the skin. It is an aggressive skin cancer and after a period of local growth has the capacity (unlike BCC) to sprout off "satellite" deposits which continue the spread. Unlike melanoma which can do this in as little as 4 to 8 weeks SCC are believed to take many months and sometimes a year or two to do this. Every SCC has this capacity unless it is treated. These occur generally from 40 years of age onwards and occur in previously sun damaged skin sometimes from many years before hand.

Optimal treatment is excision and if this is carried out before the first spread of the skin cancer then there will be no problem from that lesion. We offer this surgery on our operating days – every Tuesday and Wednesday

 

BCC

These can occur in sun damaged skin or can arise in normal looking skin. They will grow very slowly. They do not spread. I often tell people if you have to get a skin cancer this is the one to get. They will continue to grow though if not removed.  These occur from 40 years of age on - generally, but are seen from 25 up in red haired people all too often. The use of sunscreen creams is now known to be very good at preventing these cancers so UV light plays an important and immediate part

Optimal treatment is excision which we offer on our operating day – every Tuesday and Wednesday

Preventing Skin Cancer

	Cover up if you go out in the sun – arms, legs face and neck
	Wear a wide brimmed hat
	Use sunglasses (BCC’s of the eyelids margins are very common here)
	Use a sunscreen – the higher the SPF the better – make it a waterproof one if going in the water
	Parents – encourage your children to do all the above and also wear uv screening body suits
	Get a family member to look at your back and behind your legs