Skin checks...

[Jarro]

how often do you people see a skin specialist to get checked out for skin cancers

Jono would probably be the best to ask for this but, would a local GP be better to see for a check i've heard that a lot of those skin clinics that are everywhere now are in fact no good and the people are not actually qualified to check for skin cancers.

any thoughts .....

[BrisVegas]

see a specialist dermatologist. Why take a chance with someone who is not a specialist.

Some of the skin clinics were simply GP's "with an interest" in skin cancers.

I should go once a year. I've had probably 15 benign moles and sunspots removed.

[AndyP]

I saw my GP recently. I guess if they saw anything of concern they would get it tested, or refer you elsewhere.

[gazgolf1]

 I've had probably 15 benign moles .

I've had a few girlfriends like that.

[shazza_rs]

There is a skin clinic at the Royal Bris Hosp. All you need is a referral from a GP. Waiting list isn't too bad. You should get checked out every year.

[Jarro]

i'm going to visit a mob called SolarDerm , anyone heard anything about them

[BrisWesty]

SolarDerm check me over yearly.
Had a couple cut out. One on the neck was easy. The one on the chest left a great scar (less loose skin because I haven't got man boobs). Scared Mrs BrisWesty off from ever going there.
If I was getting them removed on the face, I'd be getting a referral from my GP.

[Webster]

You blokes are lucky you don't have daylight saving up there - the extra hours sunlight could be fatal!

[Jarro]

we'll see you up here in your retirement Jack.

We get all your withered up Vic's heading our way when they're no good for anything else.

[Jono]

Jarro,

The only thing about seeing a dermatologist is the waiting list. If you are just going for a checkup, I would suggest either the GP or a skin clinic. The GP should know all the signs of a suspicious looking skin lesion and refer you as necessary.

PS. Don't even think about taking your gear off at Ozgolf Champs and getting me to look at your moles ...

[markTHEblake]

my old man has had countless bits cut and burned off. He has either played golf or bowls all his life so he has seen plenty of sun.

They say that skin cancer is caused by the sun affects from 30+ years before, given that my old man was in victoria until he was 40 is an indication that qlders should be even more carefull

Once a year you should get checked, last time i went the bloke even checked under my feet and a couple of places that has never EVER seen the sun!

[Courty]

last time i went the bloke even checked under my feet and a couple of places that has never EVER seen the sun!

Maybe he liked what he saw...

[Jarro]

last time i went the bloke even checked under my feet and a couple of places that has never EVER seen the sun!

Maybe he liked what he saw...  

poor bastard is probably stil in therapy.

[Eag's]

I get checked fairly often. I have had quite a few frozen off which is quite painless.

[Jarro]

PS.  Don't even think about taking your gear off at Ozgolf Champs and getting me to look at your moles ...      

not even if i buy you a couple of drinks first

We can wait until Tezza is asleep if you are a bit bashful

[Daves]

Thread mine.

So how often do you get checked? I have been having 1/2 yearly checks for the last few years. Until now has only been the odd sunspot that needed burning/freezing off. This time the Doc found a BCC, which I had cut out yesterday. Results and stitches out next week.

[Jarro]

Nice mine Dave

I was getting checks every year, but haven't had one done for a couple of years now.

Time to book in right now !

[popper81]

I had my first one last month, prompted by a mate from school getting 6 things cut out of his shoulders/neck. That, along with my dads history of skin cancer, was enough of a kick in the arse to get it done.

I will be on the yearly visit schedule from now.

[Moe Norman]

I had a skin cancer cut out of my toe about 6 years ago.

I was going to a skin clinic every 18 months in Taringa, but one of my best mates is now a dermo so I just get him to to a check on the whole family every 6 months or so.

He's seen more of the bride than I'd like!

[Courty]

With my history (countless solar keratoses and a couple of SCCs and a BCC) I go 6 monthly.

[Ashes]

Thread mine.

So how often do you get checked? I have been having 1/2 yearly checks for the last few years. Until now has only been the odd sunspot that needed burning/freezing off. This time the Doc found a BCC, which I had cut out yesterday. Results and stitches out next week.

I'm once a year, unless I notice something.

Have had a melanoma removed from my chest and a rapid growing BCC removed from my nose.

I see a GP that has specialized in skin cancer for a while and is pretty well regarded. He removed the melanoma but sent me to one of Perths leading specialist dermatologists to remove the BCC through a specialized procedure to minimize the amount of tissue removed. Basically they remove the bare minimum, test it on the spot, and then remove a little more until they have clear margins. Took 5 hours and 3 goes under the knife but meant they managed to do a decent job of salvaging my nose (luckily there was plenty of volume to work with).

I was expecting the dermatologist to encourage to see him instead but he raved about the GP I see at the skin clinic.

[Minor_Threat]

So which is the right mob to go to? You see all the "xxx Skin Cancer Clinics" etc, but the word is they are not really qualified and are basically working from pictures they have seen of various conditions. My guess is a Dermatoligist is the safest bet (and most expensive).

Thoughts?

[Ashes]

So which is the right mob to go to? You see all the "xxx Skin Cancer Clinics" etc, but the word is they are not really qualified and are basically working from pictures they have seen of various conditions. My guess is a Dermatoligist is the safest bet (and most expensive).

Thoughts?

It's like any profession, both sides have good and bad practitioners. Best bet is to go with recommendations from others that have used the service.

I originally went to a dermatologist and didn't rate him at all.

The other thing is diagnosis isn't easy in most cases, so anyone can miss something. A specialist told me it was like trying to identify a plant when the first tiny shoot comes out of the ground, the bigger it gets the easier it is to confidently say what it might be.

[spanner039]

So which is the right mob to go to? You see all the "xxx Skin Cancer Clinics" etc, but the word is they are not really qualified and are basically working from pictures they have seen of various conditions. My guess is a Dermatoligist is the safest bet (and most expensive).

Thoughts?

I went to one of the clinic thingo's got the all clear, it was fine. If they find something suss they would refer you to a GP then refer you to a dermatologist, or have access to a dermatologist. Last clinic i saw did the fluro light thing took photos for my file, seemed OK that was two years ago.

Went to the GP got a referral to see a dermatologist this time, cant see one for another couple of weeks though. Got some pretty suss ones over the past two years that i want checked out.

[Moe Norman]

So which is the right mob to go to? You see all the "xxx Skin Cancer Clinics" etc, but the word is they are not really qualified and are basically working from pictures they have seen of various conditions. My guess is a Dermatoligist is the safest bet (and most expensive).

Thoughts?

my buddy has a vested interest in that he is a dermo, but he said the clinics aren't worth their salt and should be regulated due to their piss poor practices.

Having said that, I had a cancer cut out of my toe and it was spotted by one of the 'dodgy' clinics