How do I know if I have skin cancer?
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Get to know your skin.
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Check your skin four times a year - check your whole body, including the soles of your feet, between the toes and your nails.
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Use a mirror or ask a friend or relative to check areas that are hard to see, such as your back, or the back of your legs.
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To help you remember, keep a record of the date you last checked your skin, or check each time there is a change of season.
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You can also ask your doctor to check your skin or for a referral to a dermatologist.
The more often you examine your skin, the more you will learn about it – what is normal for you and what has changed since the last time you looked.
Skin cancers don’t all look the same. Signs to look for include:
If you notice anything new or unusual on your skin , it is important to see a medical professional immediately.
Who to see
Your general practitioner
Your GP knows your medical history, can examine your skin and advise you on appropriate care.
A specialist dermatologist
Your GP may suggest you see a specialist such as a dermatologist.
A dermatologist is a doctor who has completed specialist training in preventing, diagnosing and treating skin disease, including skin cancer.
If you would like a consultation with a dermatologist, you should keep the following in mind:
- You should have a referral from a GP. You can arrange to see a dermatologist without a GP referral but under Medicare you will be billed for a non-referred consultation. This means that your rebate will be a small percentage of the total fee, and you will need to pay the difference.
- With or without a referral, you should ask before the appointment what fees may be charged and what proportion of these are covered by Medicare.
- There may be a long waiting list. If there is a spot of particular concern, your referring doctor should organise an early appointment.
If you live in regional NSW, there may not be a dermatologist based in the local area, but many regional areas have visiting dermatologists. Your GP should be able to advise you. If a melanoma is suspected, the GP may refer you to a local surgeon or a specialist melanoma centre.
Skin cancer clinics
What are they?
There are many skin clinics, which offer a variety of services and fee arrangements. GPs usually operate skin clinics and some offer bulk-billing for some of their services. Some skin clinics may offer a higher level of expertise in skin examination than others, but at this stage there is no reliable way to evaluate the quality of care provided.
In deciding whether to go to a skin clinic, it is important you find out about the services offered and the expertise of the staff.
Choosing a skin clinic
There are four main points to consider when choosing and using a skin clinic:
- qualifications and experience of staff
- costs
- diagnosis and treatment services offered
- information and follow-up provided.
More information
- Call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20.
Cancer Council does not operate or endorse any particular skin clinics. |
