Sun damage can occur at any time of year not just in summer. From pre-cancers to melanomas, sun-damaged skin is an epidemic in Australia. We at UV Skin want to collaborate with you for every step of your journey from early detection, diagnosis, treatment, non-surgical management and even performing complicated procedures.
You can feel confident that your health needs will be looked after by an experienced team that has been caring for patients since 2006. Your treatment/care will take place in friendly and accommodating state-of-the-art medical centres.
What happens at a skin check?
During your initial 30-minute appointment, your skin cancer Doctor will undertake a full-body skin examination and full-body photography using a fotofinder Digital Dermoscopy system. Moles and suspicious skin lesions will be checked, imaged, and securely stored on stored on a private database. Your doctor will then provide their professional assessment.
Choose an in-person mole check
Other skin cancer clinics offer ways of having your mole checked without leaving home. While technology and Artificial Intelligence is developing, we cannot rely images alone. Often the firmness, elevation or growth of a mole may be an indicator of skin cancer such as melanoma. An experienced skin cancer Doctor can best assess this and detect possible cancers through a physical examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the top layer of the skin due to skin damage that also forms tumors in the skin. This is usually caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Types of skin cancer
The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.
BCC and SCC are also called non-melanoma skin cancers. BCC slowly grows over months or years and rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However, SCC quickly grows over several weeks or months and if left untreated, can spread to other parts of the body.
Melanoma is the rarest type of skin cancer, but it is considered the most serious one because it grows quickly.
What is a mole?
What is mole check?
A mole check is a full-body review of your moles by a Skin Cancer Doctor. They can identify if you have any suspicious lesions that could potentially be cancerous.
Why is a mole check important?
It is important to have a mole check because moles can change into skin cancer or Melanoma. Having a mole check can prevent skin cancer and it can be treated if captured at an early stage. At UV Skin Cancer Clinic, we use Mole mapping to help identify skin cancers as early as possible.
What is mole mapping?
Molemapping is a clinical procedure wherein you take photos of moles for assessment of their growth over time. UV Skin Cancer Clinic is using FotoFinder technology to magnify moles to better observe their deeper structures to detect early skin cancers. These images then can be used for future reference at follow-up visits in monitoring any changes. This technology is strongly advised for high-risk patients with a personal history or family history of skin cancer.
What is a biopsy?
A biopsy is a medical procedure where a small piece of tissue is taken from the body so that It can be tested by Pathology for the purpose of diagnosis to determine whether it is cancerous.
Why should you have a skin check-up?
How often should you have a skin check-up?
Many of us may remember the “Slip, Slop, Slap” campaign, which stands for the following:
- Slip-on protective clothing to cover your skin,
- Slop on some sunscreen that protects your skin from UV light,
- Slap on a hat to shade your face from UV sunlight
When should you get a molecheck?
The Skin Cancer Council recommends seeking shade, avoiding tanning salons and seeking a regular skin cancer checkup from your Doctor.
Fees
We are a private billing clinic. From February 2023, the clinic will only accept card payments.
Consultations fees are charged but vary depending on a number of factors, including consult length, medical complexity, and Medicare legislation. Please note the indicative fees for medical consultations below.
New Fees as of January 2022
Initial or Complex Consult: $210
Follow-up: $130
Costs for Tests and Procedures: There are variable out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic tests and procedures. Guidelines for these expenses can be provided by your doctor based on your circumstances.
If full records requested: Administration fee for preparing medical record $25+GST
if requesting health summary there will be NO charge.
In addition:
- Electronic transfer BP to BP XML no extra charges
- USB key password protected $6+GST
- Printing paper record .20c per page