Skin Checks and Skin Cancer in Griffin

Queensland skin needs watching

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and Queensland sits at the top of it. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70. The reassuring part is that almost all of it is treatable when it is found early, and a skin check is a painless appointment that takes around twenty minutes.

Dr Yukman (Wes) Chan, our skin cancer doctor, is available on Wednesdays, and our other GPs can examine an individual spot at any appointment.

What happens at a skin check

A full-body check means exactly that. You undress to your underwear and the doctor systematically examines your skin, using a dermatoscope to magnify anything of interest. Anything suspicious is photographed, measured and either monitored, biopsied or removed.

• Full-body examination with dermoscopy
• Assessment of a specific mole or spot that worries you
• Punch and shave biopsies for diagnosis
• Surgical excision of confirmed or suspicious lesions
• Cryotherapy for sun spots and keratoses
• Treatment of acne, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis
• Advice on sun protection and self-examination

When to book

Book a check if you have a spot that is new, changing, itching, bleeding or simply looks different to your others. Book a routine check yearly if you have fair skin, a history of bad sunburn, outdoor work, many moles or a family history of melanoma.

Between checks, look at your own skin every few months and photograph anything you want to keep an eye on. You know your skin better than anyone.