Skin Cancer Medicine

As defined by the Cancer Council Australia, 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:

Based on the 2011 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, Australian women have a 1 in 24 chance of being diagnosed with melanoma before the age of 85, whereas men have a 1 in 14 risk of being diagnosed with melanoma before the age of 85. While basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are known as non-melanoma forms of skin cancer, statistics show it is more common in men, with almost double the incidence compared to women.

In Australia every year:

  • skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers
  • between 95 and 99% of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun
  • GPs have over 1 million patient consultations per year for skin cancer

At Bartchall Medical, we have dedicated rooms for skin cancer consultation, examination and treatment. Your general practitioner has additional skin cancer medicine certification and will conduct a thorough skin check.  If required, our doctors can perform minor surgery including biopsies, removal of skin lesions and some skin cancers and cysts. Skin cancers are almost always removed. In more advanced skin cancers, some of the surrounding tissue may also be removed to make sure that all of the cancerous cells have been taken out.

Common skin cancers can be treated with ointments or radiation therapy. They can also be removed with surgery under local anaesthetic, cryotherapy (using liquid nitrogen to rapidly freeze the cancer off), curettage (scraping) or cautery (burning).

Following skin consultation and examination, should any further treatment be necessary, a treatment plan will be formulated along with any associated costs for treatment. We will take the time to discuss the treatment / surgical procedure in detail with you, likely postoperative course and the associated health benefits. If no treatment is recommended, we will ensure you are notified of when you are next due for an skin examination.