GPs are Primary Care Physicians on the front line of Skin Cancer detection.
All GPs can check your skin, though not all GPs have formal training or a specific interest in skin cancer medicine and dermatoscopy.
Our GP Skin doctors have trained extensively in General Practice, Skin Cancer Medicine and Surgery, and have formal qualifications in Skin Cancer Medicine.
Australians have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Annual skin checks are recommended for anyone over the age of 40.
Risk factors include:
A Skin Check is a Comprehensive Skin History and Examination.
The GP will ask questions to assess the extent of your risk/exposure to UV radiation therefore your risk of solar related cancers.
Your skin will then be examined head to toe and focus on any areas of concern. The GP will use a dermatoscope to examine specific skin lesions. This is a handheld magnifying device with a light. This allows further/closer assessment of skin lesions to determine whether they are suspicious or not.
Photos may be taken for monitoring and assist with diagnosis and treatment. These will be stored in your file on our medical software.
You are welcome to bring your partner/family member in with you.
If the GP is concerned about a particular skin lesion they may suggest a biopsy to clarify the diagnosis.
A biopsy is a surgical procedure during which they take an appropriate sample of tissue from the lesion of concern and send it to a pathologist for review.
Biopsies and other procedures are scheduled in one of the Green Apple GP Skin Procedure Rooms and a Practice Nurse will assist Your GP.
The results of the pathology report will guide further treatment. This may include freezing/cauterising a lesion, cutting it out (excising), or offering topical treatments such as creams.
