Skin Cancer Checks at Strathpine Super Skin Clinic
Meet our Skin Check Doctors
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DR JOHAN (WILLIE) DURR
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DR LATHA BELLARY
Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. The main cause is over exposure to sunlight, especially sunburn. Family history is also an important risk factor.
In the treatment of any skin cancers, early detection and removal is the best defence.
How we can help
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The highly qualified doctors will ensure that any skin cancer concerns you may have, are answered openly and without lots of medical jargon.
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The team at the Strathpine Super Skin Clinic are highly trained skin cancer experts, with the skills and confidence to diagnose and treat your needs.
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There are a range of treatment options available which depend on the type and severity of the case. Treatments can be either surgical or non-surgical.
Skin Check Services
Diagnostic Services
The highly qualified doctors will ensure that any skin cancer concerns you may have, are answered openly and without lots of medical jargon. They’ll guide you through the steps for a full skin check and recommend further follow up tests if necessary. And if you are diagnosed with a form of skin cancer you can be confident it will be treated with utmost skill in our state-of-the-art consulting rooms and theatres.
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We recommend that all Australian adults have a regular full skin check that includes dermoscopy. This involves the doctor examining your skin, from head to toe, using simple magnification, dermoscopy and digital dermoscopy. Usually, it can be done while you’re in your underwear. Of course, if you wish, areas normally covered by underwear can also be examined.
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Dermoscopy is the use of a special skin microscope, which allows the doctor to see beneath the skin. The ability to see elements deep within the skin provides the doctor with more information to make a decision regarding a suspicious skin lesion or mole.
Computerised or digital dermoscopy can be used to save images for future comparisons. This provides even more information for the doctor to use when analysing skin marks. Our practice is equipped with the latest digital dermoscopy technology.
Not only does this lead to an earlier detection of skin cancer, but also prevents unnecessary cutting out of a skin lesion or mole that then turns out to be harmless.
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Winter is a good time for full skin checks that involve dermoscopy. Most people’s skin is covered up during the winter months, which minimises sun exposure to the skin lesions or moles. This means the doctor can make a more accurate assessment of your skin. Even short but intense periods of sun-exposure can cause a mole to change, which can make a normal mole appear suspicious.
Types of Skin Cancer
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Melanoma
Superficial Spreading Melanoma
This is the most common type of melanoma making up about 50% of all melanomas diagnosed. This melanoma usually appears as a dark spot with irregular borders that spreads across the skin.
Nodular Melanoma
Most dangerous melanoma as they are often very thick when diagnosed. Nodular is one of the most rapidly growing typesof melanoma. It appears as a raised lump or‘nodule’ and can be brown, black, pink or red incolouring, or have no colour at all. About 15% of allmelanomas are nodular.Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
Most commonly found in elderly patients, usually on the face or neck. It begin as large freckles. This type of melanoma makes up 10% of all melanomas .
Melanoma In-Situ
The earliest form of melanoma and completely curable with complete excision.Acral Melanoma
Acral is a rare type of melanoma that tends to grow on the palms of hands, soles of the feet or under the nails (subungual). It accounts for about 3% of all melanomas. -
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common skin cancer, typically found on the ear, face, lips, hands or lower legs. SCC is more dangerous than basal cell carcinoma because of its ability to spread to other parts of the body. The pre-invasive phase, SCC in situ, is often called Bowen's disease.
Bowen's disease characteristically presents with one or more dry or crusted red or brown patches. Invasive SCC usually grows within a solar keratosis (scaly spots due to sun damage) and presents as a tender scaly or ulcerated lump. Invasive SCC needs to be attended to promptly as there is a risk of secondary spread. -
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in the world. Despite this, very few people die from BCC. The two most common types are nodular and superficial BCC which are easily treatable.
The nodular type of BCC appears as a slowly-growing, shiny white, pink or discoloured bump, most often on the face or neck.
The superficial type of BCC presents as one or more irregular red scaly patches growing on the trunk or limbs.
Diagnosis
SELF ASSESSMENT
It is important for the average adult to regularly check their skin for new moles or any changes to existing moles.
Although it is rare for moles to become cancerous, the earlier that cancerous moles are spotted and treated, the better the chances that treatment will be successful.
That said if you have any concerns or doubts as to the condition of a mole or group of moles, or if you have many moles (more than other people you know) then it is essential that you seek professional advice as soon as possible.
SELF ASSESSMENT OF MOLES
You can check your own skin for moles, using a mirror to check those hard to reach places that you cannot see directly. Alternatively, you can get your partner or a parent to check your back and neck for you.
You can get moles anywhere on your body, but you will soon learn where your moles are, and so checking them becomes a quick and easy process.
A note of caution though. The fact that early treatment for malignant melanoma is so important can lead to people becoming over anxious about their moles. However, moles generally change quite slowly, with differences taking several weeks or even months to appear, so you should not get obsessive about checking your skin.
If you do not have any particular risk factors, checking your moles should take 15 minutes every one to three months.
CHECKING EXISTING MOLES AND SPOTTING NEW MOLES
You should look out for the common warning signs that might indicate pre-cancerous or cancerous changes to your moles. To make it easier to assess your own moles, you can use the ABCDE method as a checklist:
A – asymmetry – most moles are round or oval in shape so look out for odd shapes.
B – border irregularity – most moles have a smooth edge to them so look out for ragged edges.
C – colour change – most moles are brown and only one or two colours so look out for colour changes or new shades appearing.
D – diameter – most moles will remain the same size, usually less than 5mm so look out for increases in size, especially beyond 5mm.
E – elevated – most moles are flat or slightly raised so look out for moles that become raised.
HOW TO DO IT
Examine your face, especially the nose, lips, mouth, and ears – front and back. Use one or both mirrors to get a clear view.
Thoroughly inspect your scalp, using a blow dryer and mirror to expose each section to view. Get a friend or family member to help, if you can.
Check your hands carefully: palms and backs, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Continue up the wrists to examine both front and back of your forearms.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, begin at the elbows and scan all sides of your upper arms. Don’t forget the underarms.
Next focus on the neck, chest, and torso. Women should lift breasts to view the underside.
With your back to the full-length mirror, use the hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper back, and any part of the back of your upper arms you could not view in step 4.
Still using both mirrors, scan your lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs.
Sit down; prop each leg in turn on the other stool or chair. Use the hand mirror to examine the genitals. Check front and sides of both legs, thigh to shin, ankles, tops of feet, between toes and under toenails. Examine soles of feet and heels.
Skin Cancer Treatment
The following procedures are performed at the Clinic
SURGICAL SKIN CANCER TREATMENTS
Skin biopsy
Surgical excision of all skin cancer types
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) – Surgical excision, Curettage and Diathermy
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) – Surgical excision and follow-up
Melanoma – Surgical excision and follow-up
Flap repair and full thickness skin grafting, if required.
NON – SURGICAL SKIN CANCER TREATMENTS
Some types of skin cancers can be treated by non –surgical methods such as :
Aldara Cream for superficial BCC and “sun-spots”.
Cryotherapy (Freezing)
OTHER SURGERY OR TREATMENTS
Surgical excision of benign skin lesions, cysts and lumps (for diagnostic and medical reasons)
Shave excision of benign skin lumps
Diathermy ( electrosurgical destruction ) – “age spots”
Cryotherapy ( cryosurgical destruction ) – “age spots”
Skin Cancer Additional Info
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Use a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher every day when the UV Index is 3 or above.
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming or sweating. Use about one teaspoon per limb.
Slip on covering clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a broad brimmed hat, seek shade, and slide on sunglasses.
Avoid tanning and never use solariums.
Check your own skin regularly and see your doctor about any spot that is new or changing.
Have a professional skin check with your doctor every year.
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Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
About 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70.
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Around 17,400 new cases of melanoma are estimated to be diagnosed in Australia in 2025, making it the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, with around 1,455 deaths.
A person has about a 1 in 19 risk of being diagnosed with melanoma by the age of 85.
Non melanoma skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) are the most commonly treated cancers in Australia. Most are curable when found and treated early.
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Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (2004). Cancer in Australia 2001. AIHW cat. no. CAN 23. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR) (2008). Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. AIHW cat. no. CAN 32. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Staples M., et. al. (2006). Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia: the 2002 national survey and trends since 1985. Medical Journal of Australia 2006; 184: 6-10.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (2008). Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. AIHW cat. no. CAN 32.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Cancer Australia. Non-melanoma skin cancer: general practice consultations, hospitalisation and mortality. Cat no. CAN 39. September 2008.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012). Cancer in Australia: an overview 2012. AIHW cat no. 70.