Skin Cancer Clinic

Southport Skin Cancer Centre is Southport Doctors’ dedicated skin cancer clinic, located on the third floor of our building in Davenport Street.

Having completed extensive further training and assessment in the skin cancer field, Dr Donna Armstrong and Dr Graham Sivyer have obtained full accreditation with the Skin Cancer College of Australasia, and regularly attend ongoing education courses to hone their skills and remain up-to-date. 

Our consulting rooms are fully-equipped with the latest technology in skin imaging using Dermoscopy and digital image storage for the detection and monitoring of skin lesions. Dermoscopy (magnified imaging of the skin) is extremely important in diagnosing all skin cancers and it is essential that any skin doctor be extremely proficient in this skill. Storage of these images allows your doctor to identify changes in skin cells from skin check to skin check, allowing for the early detection of cancerous lesions requiring removal. All of our skin doctors are experienced in performing complex skin cancer surgery involving flaps and grafts with excellent cosmetic outcomes. 

Some facts about skin cancer:

• Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world – 2 out of 3 people will develop some form of the disease by the time they are 70
• Ultraviolet radiation (sun rays) is the most common cause 
• Skin cancer can occur anyone there is skin, regardless of whether the area has been exposed to the sun or not
• Ultraviolet levels vary with the time of day and year. An ultraviolet level of 3 or above will cause mutations in the DNA of our skin cells. 
• Our immune system’s normal response to these mutated cells is a process called apoptosis where cells are broken down, the DNA destroyed and the shrunken cells cleaned away by white blood cells. However, when cell mutations occur faster than they can be cleaned away, cancer forms.

Types of Skin Cancers:

Skin cancers are named after the skin cell that mutates and becomes cancerous. Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma are the three most common forms of skin cancer. Rarer types of skin cancers include Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Sebaceous Carcinoma, Atypical Fibroxanthoma, Microcystic Adenocarcinoma and Angiosarcoma. 

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a skin cancer of the basal skin cell mostly caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sun or welding) but can sometimes be caused by genetics or ingestion of arsenic. This type of skin cancer rarely spreads until very late stages but can spread readily if it grows into the nerves. It is locally destructive and causes cosmetic concerns, especially if on the face. There are sub-types of this cancer that are more aggressive, meaning they grow more rapidly and have large root systems.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a skin cancer of the squamous cell of the skin. This type of skin cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes. The potential to spread is determined by the thickness of the skin cancer, its location and the grade (differentiation). Areas such as the lips and ears carry a high chance of early spread. It is important that this skin cancer is excised as soon as possible. Sometimes if a SCC is advanced and shows signs of invasion, particularly in small nerves, radiotherapy will be needed to reduce the risk of spread. Lymph nodes spread is very relevant with SCC’s.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a skin cancer of the melanocyte and is a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer. It is totally curable with early diagnosis and excision. Dermoscopy is extremely important in the early diagnosis of melanoma. This skin cancer spreads by all means – in the skin, through the blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves. The thicker the melanoma, the worse the prognosis. A thin melanoma is less than 1mm in depth. This generally carries an extremely good prognosis of cure after appropriate margin excision. A thick melanoma is anything over 1mm in depth. The greater the depth, the more serious the prognosis. There are different types of melanoma based on origin and behaviour. Superficial spreading is the most common type and begins in the superficial layers (epidermis) of the skin before it grows deeper, as opposed to nodular melanoma which arises in the dermis and can progress to a more advanced stage before it is obvious on the skin. 

Common Symptoms of Skin Cancer:

The Cancer Council have identified the following as potential signs of skin cancer:

• New or growing moles
• Spots that change colour
• Spots that become raised
• Moles becoming rough, scaly or ulcerated
• Moles that become notched 
• Moles that start itching or tingling
• Moles that weep or bleed
• Spots that are different from others

In between skin checks, the Cancer Council’s ABCDE Melanoma Detection Guide can be used to monitor your own skin.

Asymmetry – Spots that are not symmetrical are a risk

Border – Spots with spreading or irregular edges are a risk

Colour – Spots that are blotchy with multiple colours are a risk

Diameter – Spots that are becoming larger are a risk

Evolving – Spots that change or grow are a risk

Southport Skin Cancer Centre Southport

It is strongly recommended to have a skin check by a specially-trained, experienced skin doctor at least every twelve months, and more frequently if a high-risk patient. Regular skin examinations and monitoring of existing skin lesions can drastically improve chances of early diagnosis and consequently successful treatment. 

It is important to check the credentials of the doctor performing your skin check as not all doctors have undergone specific training in the field.