Download Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions

Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the clinic?
On arrival you will fill out a short questionnaire which includes previous skin cancer diagnosis and
treatment, family history and other relevant medical history. The doctor will then call you into the
room and discuss any relevant points from the questionnaire and any spots you are concerned
about. After this you will be asked to undress in private to your underwear (a hospital gown can be
provided if desired)
Your partner or a family member is welcome to attend the examination if you wish.
If assessing a child under 18 years, a parent / carer must be present.
Your examination
A full body examination (underwear is left on) is a routine and vital part of a skin cancer check. It is
strongly recommended to have all of your skin examined in detail as skin cancer can occur anywhere
– even on those parts of the body that have seen relatively little sun recently.
The doctor will use a magnifier to scan the skin and any suspicious spots will be examined in more
detail with more sophisticated equipment. Photographs may be taken for discussion or future
reference.
Do I need a referral?
A doctors referral is not needed, you can simply call (08) 8271 0303 for an appointment.
How long does it take?
Depending on the number of moles / sun spots present, your examination should take 15 to 30
minutes.
What will happen if a suspicious lesion is detected?
If a pre-cancerous sun spot is detected it may be treated with cryotherapy (freezing) or special
cream.
If a skin cancer is suspected, a biopsy (removal of a small part to confirm diagnosis) or an excision
(removal of the entire lesion) is arranged.
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Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
Surgical Procedures
If a skin cancer is suspected, arrangements are made for either a biopsy or excision. This will be
performed at a further appointment.
The planned procedure will be fully discussed so you understand what is involved, including risks,
complications, and other potential treatment options that may be available.
All equipment used, including sutures, is of the highest quality. All reusable instruments are fully
sterilised with Australian standards approved and maintained equipment.
Testing of specimens
All specimens are sent to a pathology service for testing. This gives us the diagnosis and also
confirms if the skin cancer has been completely removed.
When will I get my results?
The pathology report and what this means will be discussed in simple terms at the follow-up
appointment. Any sutures placed to close the skin wound will generally be removed at this time.
Follow-up
If you agree, you will be entered into a computerised recall system to receive a follow-up reminder,
usually via SMS. Follow up interval is between 3 to 12 months, depending on your risk factors.
What are the risk factors for skin cancer?
They include skin type (fair vs dark), numbers of dark moles present, previous UV exposure (sun
tanning lamps), previous skin cancers diagnosed, occupational exposure (arc welding) and drugs
that supress the immune system (organ transplants, immunotherapies)
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Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
What if a mole appears or changes between appointments?
If a new mole appears or a pre-existing mole changes, please book an urgent review as soon as
possible. Do not wait to see if it will go away –
Remember, the best and sometimes only way to cure a skin cancer is to diagnose and
remove it as soon as possible.
**EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT SAVES LIVES**
At what age should skin cancer checks start?
People of all ages need to regularly check their skin for changes as skin cancer affects everyone.
Melanoma is the most common cancer in the 15 to 24 year old age group.
Australians over the age of 40 are at the highest risk, 3 monthly self-checks with 12 monthly clinic
checks are recommended.
Sun damage is cumulative and may take years or even decades to appear in the form of visible
symptoms. This means that damage incurred when you were a child or teenager may not present
visibly until you are well into middle age or older.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Australia. Skin Cancer is a disease of the skin
cells caused mostly by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun.
Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells start to grow and divide abnormally, resulting in the
development of abnormal tissue which can invade and destroy adjacent normal tissues. Some
cancers may also spread (metastatic) to other locations in the body causing damage there as well.
Skin cancer is normally divided into two categories: Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
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Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Melanoma?
Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer but the most deadly. If not treated early
enough it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma appears as a new spot or more rarely
in a pre-existing mole that changes colour, size or shape.
A melanoma usually has an irregular outline or shape and can be more than one colour – often
different shades of brown mixed in with red. Sometimes melanomas are just very black and look
different to other adjacent moles.
Sometimes they can present just as a rapidly growing, fleshy red lump with no brown or black at
all.
A melanoma can grow over weeks to months and can appear anywhere on the body, including
areas that are not exposed to the sun. They require very early diagnosis and removal to maximise
the chance of a cure.
What is a non-melanoma skin cancer?
These include many different skin cancer types, but the most common of these being:
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Basal Cell Carcinomas – the most common skin cancer type in Australia, usually triggered
by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Hence they are often found on
those parts of the body most exposed to the sun (face, arms, legs, back)
They may be flat, red and rather innocuous looking or pink and lumpy with a discrete
border. If they are large enough they will often form an ulcer in the centre and will often
bleed. They generally cause local tissue destruction and rarely spread.
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Squamous Cell Carcinomas – also common particularly in older Australians on sun
damaged skin. They can be red, flat and scaly or raised and lumpy with a crusty top or cap.
They do have the potential to spread to other parts of the body, particularly if they are on
the lip/ear or if they grow over 1cm elsewhere on the body. Early diagnosis and removal
minimises the risk of spread.
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Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main risk factors for skin cancer?
Risk is increased for people who:
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Are exposed to ultraviolet radiation during childhood/adolescence and,
Have repeated exposure to ultraviolet light over their lifetime.
Have had episodes of sunburn
Have a light complexion
Are older
Have had a previous non melanoma skin cancer
Have a personal history or family history of melanoma
Have a large number of moles (naevi)
Are immunosuppressed (medication for organ transplants, rheumatoid arthritis,
inflammatory conditions)
What is ultraviolet radiation (UVR)?
It is the part of sunlight which causes sunburn and skin damage leading to premature aging and
skin cancer. Damage to the skin occurs as soon as the skin is exposed to UVR. The effects of
UVR on the skin are cumulative so the damage builds up over a lifetime – even without sunburn
burning.
It is not related to heat and can be present even on a cloudy day. Light coloured and shiny
surfaces such as sand, snow, concrete and water all reflect UVR. UVR is at its maximum between
10am and 2pm (11am and 3pm daylight savings)
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