Comprehensive Guide to Skin Cancer Screening and Treatment Options

Don’t like the look of that mole on your arm?

Feeling anxious about the weird patch of skin on your leg?

Welcome to the club.

Skin cancer is on the rise in Australia and 2 in 3 of us will be diagnosed with it in our lifetimes. When you put it that way, those casual self-exams in the shower or from the changing room mirror don’t seem like such a good idea.

But here’s the good news…

Skin cancer is easily treated when detected early. When found in time, the five-year survival rate for melanoma is close to 100% — and that’s where regular skin cancer checks come in.

All of this is to say, it’s time to stop stressing and start screening.

Let’s break down what you need to know about skin cancer screening and treatment options. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly what to look for and where to go if you’re not feeling too confident about tackling it alone.

What you’ll learn:

• Types of Skin Cancer
• The Importance of Early Detection
• The Screening Process
• Treatment Options
• Prevention Tips

Types of Skin Cancer

Before we go any further, let’s make sure we understand the different types of skin cancer out there.

There are 3 main types of skin cancer to know:

1. Melanoma
2. Basal Cell Carcinoma
3. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. It starts in the pigment-producing cells of the skin (melanocytes) and can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It begins in the basal cells (cells that produce new skin cells to replace old ones) and rarely spreads beyond the skin.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most common type. It starts in the squamous cells (skin cells) and can spread to other parts of the body if not treated.

The key takeaway?

Melanoma is the dangerous one that you need to be most vigilant about. The other 2 types are much more common but also much less likely to be fatal.

The Importance of Early Detection

Now here’s something you need to know…

Early detection of skin cancer is key. The sooner it’s found, the easier it is to treat.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the five-year survival rate for melanoma detected in its early stages is close to 100%. That jumps all the way down to 15% for late-stage melanoma — and that’s just with modern treatments.

But here’s the kicker…

Most people wait until their skin cancer is pretty advanced before getting it checked out. By then, it may have spread to other parts of the body and be much more difficult to treat.

Professional screening services like MoleMap skin cancer clinic in Wollongong use digital dermoscopy to track changes in your skin over time. This makes it much easier to spot potential issues early on before they become a big problem.

It’s a no-brainer, really. Would you rather catch skin cancer when it’s a tiny spot that can be sliced out in minutes? Or wait until it’s spread to other parts of your body and requires aggressive treatment?

If you had to guess, which one would be more effective?

The Screening Process

Okay, so let’s say you want to get screened for skin cancer. What’s the process actually involve?

Skin cancer screening isn’t complicated.

At a typical skin cancer screening, a trained specialist will:

• Look for suspicious spots on your skin
• Use dermoscopy to take a closer look at any concerning areas
• Document and photograph moles for future comparison
• Discuss your risk factors and sun exposure history

The whole process usually takes 30-45 minutes.

Advanced skin cancer screening centres will use digital imaging technology to create a complete map of your skin. This allows specialists to easily compare your skin over time and spot even the smallest changes that could indicate early cancer.

Some clinics even use AI-powered analysis to help identify suspicious lesions. This is software that can spot patterns that may be missed by the human eye alone.

What you might not know…

You should be doing regular self-checks at home in between professional screenings. Look for the ABCDEs of melanoma:

• Asymmetry (one half doesn’t match the other)
• Border (irregular or poorly defined edges)
• Color (varied shades of brown, black, or other colors)
• Diameter (larger than 6mm or about the size of a pencil eraser)
• Evolving (changing in size, shape, or color over time)

Treatment Options

Okay, so what happens if screening finds something suspicious?

The treatment depends on the type and stage of your skin cancer. Let’s look at the most common treatment options:

Surgical Removal

For most types of skin cancer, surgical removal is the first line of treatment.

The surgeon will cut out the cancerous tissue plus a small margin of healthy skin around it. For early-stage cancers, this simple procedure is often curative.

Recovery is usually quick — most people return to normal activities within a week or two.

Mohs Surgery

This is a specialized surgical technique used for skin cancers in cosmetically sensitive areas like the face.

The surgeon removes the cancer layer by layer, examining each layer under a microscope until all cancer cells are gone. This preserves as much healthy tissue as possible.

Non-Surgical Treatments

In some cases, surgery may not be necessary or the preferred treatment option. Alternatives include:

• Cryotherapy (freezing the cancer cells with liquid nitrogen)
• Topical Treatments (medicated creams that destroy cancer cells)
• Radiation Therapy (used when surgery is not an option)
• Immunotherapy (stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells, used for advanced melanoma)

Your specialist will recommend the most appropriate treatment based on your individual case. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and understand the pros and cons of each option.

Prevention Tips

Here’s the thing…

Prevention is always better than treatment. And preventing skin cancer is not that hard — you just need to be consistent about it.

Slip, slop, slap still applies:

• Slip on sun-protective clothing
• Slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat

But there’s more to it than that.

Try to avoid the sun during peak hours between 10am and 4pm when UV radiation is strongest. Seek shade whenever possible. Don’t use tanning beds — they increase your skin cancer risk significantly.

Did you know…

You should be checking your vitamin D levels. Sun exposure is necessary for vitamin D production, but you don’t need to bake in the sun for hours to get it. Just 10-15 minutes a few times a week is enough.

Treat sunscreen like toothpaste — an essential part of your daily routine. Apply it every morning, even on cloudy days. UV rays can still cause damage through clouds.

Getting Your First Skin Check

Ready to take the next step?

Booking your first professional skin cancer screening is easy. Most clinics offer online booking and can fit you in within a few weeks.

If you have risk factors like fair skin, a history of sunburns, or a family history of skin cancer, you should be screened annually. If not, at least every two years is recommended for everyone.

Don’t wait until you notice something is seriously wrong. You’ve then lost the early detection advantage that makes treatment so much easier.

Time to Take Action

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer — but only if you catch it early.

The statistics are in. Early detection significantly improves your chances of survival. Professional screening gives you the best shot at catching things before they become a big deal.

So what are you waiting for?

Book that skin check. Apply that sunscreen. Start paying attention to what’s going on with your skin.

You’ll thank your future self later.