Treatments | Detection of Skin Cancer

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR A SKIN / MOLE CHECK OR MOLE REMOVAL PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK.

Early diagnosis

The increasing rise in cases of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, should make everybody aware of the importance of an early diagnosis. Cancer prevention and early diagnosis are two of our biggest concerns. 90% of skin cancer is caused by excessive sun exposure. The first approach with our patients is to teach them how to protect themselves from the sun.

It is important to regularly check your skin and family member's skin for any changes that could indicate skin cancer. Early detection is key to successful treatment, and the sooner skin cancer is identified, the more likely it is to be manageable. We offer an annual skin and mole check to give you greater peace of mind but it is important to get any changes checked at anytime between skin checks.

Skin cancer often begins as small, unnoticed growths or changes in existing moles, so it’s crucial to monitor your skin for new spots, changes in shape or colour, or any unusual symptoms like bleeding or itching. Performing a self-exam once a month and scheduling professional skin checks with a dermatologist annually can significantly reduce the risk of serious complications. Protecting your skin from harmful UV exposure and seeking prompt medical attention if you notice anything unusual are essential steps in safeguarding your health. Remember, prevention and early detection are the best ways to stay ahead of skin cancer.

Early diagnosis is crucial for malignant melanoma, as a treatment for advanced melanoma is rarely effective. Dermoscopy allows us to increase diagnostic accuracy, reducing the number of unnecessary excisions of benign skin lesions, sparing time, pain, and cost.

For non-melanoma skin cancer (mainly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), an early diagnosis is sensible. Early stages of non-melanoma skin cancer manifest as slightly raised red lesions covered by a scab.

These pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratosis) may develop into basal or squamous cell carcinomas. When diagnosed in this stage, non-surgical treatment is easy, effective, and cosmetically acceptable (no scarring).

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR A SKIN / MOLE CHECK OR MOLE REMOVAL PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK ABOVE

Please remove nail varnish before your appointment as skin cancer can occur on nails.

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