Below are some questions about skin cancer cancer to ask your doctor to learn more about the disease, and your care and treatment options.
Asking your doctor questions will help you make an informed choice. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list.
Learn more about:
Diagnosis
- What is this spot on my skin?
- Will I need a biopsy?
- What is my biopsy result? Do I have skin cancer?
- What type of skin cancer is it?
- Did the biopsy remove all of the skin cancer?
Treatment
- Do I need further treatment? If so, what treatment do you recommend?
- Do I need to see a specialist?
- I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
- If I don’t have the treatment, what should I expect?
- How much will the treatment cost?
Side effects
- 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?
Listen to our podcasts on Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis and Making Treatment Decisions
Additional resources
Prof Diona Damian, Dermatologist, The University of Sydney at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Associate, Melanoma Institute of Australia, NSW; Dr Annie Ho, Radiation Oncologist, Genesis Care, Macquarie University, St Vincent’s and Mater Hospitals, NSW; Rebecca Johnson, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Melanoma Institute of Australia, NSW; Shannon Jones, SunSmart Health Professionals Coordinator, Cancer Council Victoria; Liz King, Skin Cancer Prevention Manager, Cancer Council NSW; Roslyn McCulloch, Consumer; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Paige Preston, Policy Advisor, Cancer Prevention, Health and Wellbeing, Cancer Council Queensland; Dr Michael Wagels, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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