Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic

IF YOU ONLY GET ONE SKIN CHECK A YEAR, IT’LL BE A GREAT YEAR.

At Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic in Warriewood, saving lives is part of the job. Read on to see how one local’s recent check up saved his life.

Growing up in the sunshine on the beach certainly contributes to our lucky country vibes, except when skin cancer comes to play.

Australia offi cially has the second highest rate of melanoma in the world, and two in three Aussies will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the time they are 70.

New treatments and therapies are changing the odds for patients if and when skin cancers are discovered and taken care of early by doctors who have completed extra study and expertise in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. And the truth is, even if you only have one routine check, once a year, it will be a great year that will give you peace of mind.

Two weeks ago, a 42-year-old man presented for his annual skin check at Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic. He pointed out to his doctor that there was a new lesion growing on his neck, and it was rubbing on his collar.

The patient wasn’t too worried by the lump but requested his doctor remove it as it had become annoying. His skin cancer doctor agreed the lesion should be removed as the cause of the lump was unknown, and it needed a diagnosis. The removal would also stop the irritation.

Even through the skin cancer doctor’s magnifi er, called a dermatoscope, the lesion did not look too sinister. Often at a skin check, what the patient feels is sinister, the doctor may fi nd benign or harmless. And the converse also applies. What the patient feels is benign may well be a life-threatening lesion.

After removal and diagnosis, the patient’s annoying lump was a melanoma measuring 8.5mm deep. Within two days, he was seen by specialists at the melanoma unit.

The best news from this story was that the cancer had not spread, and the lump has since been more widely excised.

Had this wise patient not attended for his routine skin cancer check, this story may not have had such a positive ending.

Summer is here, and the sun is shining. Before you go spending endless days on the beach, book an appointment and get your skin checked. This is one crucial appointment that may just save your life. •

Skin checkups are a vital part of a healthy lifestyle.

Get your skin checked today! It can save your life.

visit: nbscc.com.au Call (02) 9999 0336

BUILDING Q1, LEVEL 2, SUITE 9, 4 DAYDREAM STREET, WARRIEWOOD // (02) 9999 0336 // INFO@NBSCC.COM.AU // www.nbscc.com.au