Skin cancer consultations
- Surgical excision and biopsy.
- Avoid removing harmless moles.
- Using Derm lite technology.
- Referrals if needed
SKIN CANCER CONSULTATION IN MELBOURNE
Our Skin Cancer Clinic in Melbourne aims to provide skin cancer screening, diagnosis, management and referral. Early detection of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers makes more effective treatment with fewer side effects possible. Dr Manal Youssef holds a Certificate in Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Surgical Excisions and personally attends to patients at the Skin Cancer Clinic. As a skin cancer-trained doctor, she is experienced in skin cancer services to detect, diagnose and provide the appropriate care for your condition.
You do not require a referral to visit us for a consultation. We can also treat skin cancers and suspicious spots by surgical excision, topical creams, freezing (cryotherapy) and burning (diathermy). We can arrange referrals to certain clinics for further management if required
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer occurs when skin cells are damaged, for example, by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. There are three main types of skin cancer:
–Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): Most common form of skin cancer Least dangerous form of skin cancer rarely fatal but can be highly disfiguring.
– Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Second most common form of skin cancer Occurs mostly to areas that are exposed to the sun.
– Melanoma: Most dangerous form of skin cancer develops over weeks to months usually curable if detected early.
Information about Skin Cancer
- Australia has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the world with 2 in every 3 Australians developing skin cancer in their lifetime.
- Melanoma kills over 1000 Australians each year.
- Between 95 and 99% of skin cancers in Australia are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
- Some UV radiation from the sun is important for health but too much UV can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer.
- Hence, the number one prevention of skin cancer is by not getting sunburnt.
- Regular checks of your skin are recommended if you detect any suspicious spots as soon as they develop.
- Skin cancer checks allows early diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.
- If detected early, 95% of skin cancers can be successfully treated.
Skin Cancer Screening, Detection & Diagnosis
Skin cancer screening is a process carried out by a doctor who is trained in identifying skin cancers and lesions.
A skin cancer check-up involves skin cancer risk factor analysis and a full body skin examination by your doctor using high resolution derm lite to check for skin cancer before the appearance of any symptoms or if you have a mole, freckle or lesion of concern.
It may also include digital photography of any abnormal or unusual spots, suspicious moles and skin lesions and follow-up photographs to check for changes in these spots.
Individual Spots
If you prefer not to have a full body examination, the doctor can examine only those unusual spots or lesions you are concerned about to detect early warning signs of malignant skin lesions.
What is Dermlite?
Dermlite is a non-invasive technique using a medical device known as a dermlite to closely examine any unusual spots.
A dermlite is an instrument that magnifies and lights up the skin, allowing the doctor to see through the top layer of the skin into the skin structure.
The high magnification of the dermlite enables microscopic visualisation of skin structures below the skin’s surface that are invisible to the naked eye.
The doctor can tell if a mole or spot is normal or abnormal. Dermlite has been proven to significantly increase the rate of skin cancer detection.
Do you need to have a skin cancer check?
You should contact us if:
You have developed a new spot that is different from other spots around it.
A spot, mole or unusual freckle that has changed in shape, size, or colour
A sore that doesn’t heal any skin spot that you are worried about.
To book an appointment for a comprehensive skin check or discuss any skin changes,
Please call and ask to book into the skin cancer clinic.
Do you know the warning signs?
Learn what to look out for:
Web Link Spot the difference: skin cancers flyer
SunSmart / Cancer Council Victoria
Information on early detection and prevention with images of skin spots and skin cancers, including nodular melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and solar keratosis.
People at higher risk of skin cancer include:
Previous history and/or family members of skin cancer, especially melanomasRed hair
Fair skin and more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and burns easily
History of severe and blistering sunburns
Large number of moles
Spend a lot of time outdoors, unprotected, during their lifetime
Use solariums, sunlamps and sunbeds.
There is evidence that screening by a health professional leads to earlier diagnosis of skin cancers.
This means they are easier to treat with a higher cure rate.
We would recommend regular full skin checks to be done at least once to twice annually.
