Skin Cancer Management
What is Skin Cancer?
There are three main types of skin cancer:
- basal cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are known as non-melanoma skin cancer or keratinocyte cancers. Keratinocyte cancer is more common in men, with almost double the incidence compared to women.
Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australians excluding keratinocyte cancers as data on incidence is not routinely collected). In 2015, 13,694 Australians were diagnosed with melanoma.
Every year, in Australia:
- skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers
- the majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun
- the incidence of skin cancer is one of the highest in the world, two to three times the rates in Canada, the US and the UK.
Learn more about how Cancer Council funded researchers are working on curing Australia’s national cancer.
What can we do?
Early prevention and regular skin checks saves lives! At St George on Mermaid Beach Medical Centre, we provide full body general skin examinations, mole surveillance to detect signs of skin cancer, perform biopsies, and surgical and medical treatment of skin cancers for the removal of skin lesions.
If you would like more information or would like to make a booking for a skin check, please call reception at 07 5551 6999.
We also support our local services near the medical centre
Starlight Foundation
At Starlight we know that happiness matters to sick kids facing the pain, fear and stress of serious illness.
That's why for over 30 years we've worked in partnership with health professionals to bring the fun, joy and laughter that helps sick kids be kids.
We help kids of all ages regardless of disability, injury or illness because what happens in childhood lasts a lifetime.
We believe in happiness because it matters to sick kids’ health.