8 Tips on Skin Cancer

1.     Don't think because it scabby, has been there for a while and is not a mole, it won't kill you. 642 People die yearly in Australia (2015 statistics) from skin cancer other than melanoma (many from SCC and BCC)

2.     Don't think clearance after a full skin check means that you won't get skin cancer for the next year. A level 3 Melanoma can develop over 6 weeks from nothing - not even a mole on the skin

3.     Don't think that a dermatoscope (instrument used to examine skin lesions) is 100% accurate. In the best of hands dermatoscopes are only 84% accurate in identifying melanomas. We all regularly miss melanomas

4.     After a landmark study published in the Lancet of June 2019 demonstrated up to 11% improvement on the dermatoscopic analysis if skin cancer by Artificial Intelligence, we expect that the whole approach to identifying melanomas in high risk patients will change

5.     Don't think that melanomas and other skin cancers appear on sun exposed skin only. Skin cancer can develop on any skin surface or any mucous membrane of the body

6.     Full body skin checks usually exclude examination in private areas. Please home examine and report suspicious lesions in these areas

7.     Examining the face through make-up is like looking through the window with the curtains drawn. Please remove make-up and preferably nail polish (skin cancer can develop under the nails) before your yearly skin check. Refraining for 2 days from using skin moisturisers, helps to identify scaly skin cancers easier

8.     Yearly skin checks might be too far apart. If you have a high risk for melanoma or have scabby lesions and sun spots, more frequent visits might be needed