Skin cancer
If you’re affected by non-melanoma skin cancer, you may have many questions about how it is diagnosed, treatment options, side effects and how to stay well. You can find trustworthy information about all aspects of your experience below.
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Diagnosis
- What is this spot on my skin?
- Will I need a biopsy or excision?
- What is my biopsy result? Do I have skin cancer?
- What type of skin cancer is it?
- Did the biopsy or excision remove all the skin cancer?
- Are there clinical guidelines for this type of cancer?
Treatment
- What treatment will I have?
- Will I need further treatment or follow-up? If so, what do you recommend?
- Do I need to see a dermatologist or surgeon?
- I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
- How long will treatment take?
- If I don’t have the treatment, what should I expect?
- Are there any out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare or my private health cover? Can the cost be reduced if I can’t afford it?
Side effects
- Will I have a lot of pain? What will be done about this?
- Can I work, drive and do my normal activities while having treatment?
- Will there be any scarring after the skin cancer has been removed?
- When will I get my results and who will tell me?
After treatment
- Is this skin cancer likely to come back?
- How often should I get my skin checked?
- Where can I go for follow-up skin checks?
- Will I need any further tests after treatment is finished?
- How can I prevent further skin cancers?
The information here is about non-melanoma skin cancers. Learn more about melanoma skin cancer.
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A/Prof Victoria Mar, Director, Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, VIC; Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Raelene Buchan, Consumer; Alison Button-Sloan, Consumer; Dr Margaret Chua, Radiation Oncologist, and the Skin Radiation Oncology team, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anne Cust, Deputy Director, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, Chair, National Skin Cancer Committee, Cancer Council, and faculty member, Melanoma Institute Australia; A/Prof Paul Fishburn, Skin Cancer Doctor, Norwest Skin Cancer Centre, NSW and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland; Danielle Goss, Melanoma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Amie St Clair Melanoma (part of Melanoma Institute Australia), Wagga Wagga, NSW; Louise Pellerade, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA: Dr Shireen Sidhu, Head of Dermatology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Amelia Smit, Research Fellow – Melanoma and Skin Cancer, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Dr Tony Tonks, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Canberra Plastic Surgery, ACT.
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