Living in sunny Queensland dramatically increases your skin cancer risk. That’s why skin checks are an important service that we are proud to offer at Bellbowrie Family Practice. Conveniently located at Bellbowrie Shopping Centre, close to Kenmore, Taringa, Annerley and surrounding suburbs, our Brisbane skin checks are bulk-billed and only take about fifteen minutes.
Regular skin checks at our skin cancer clinic could save your life, so call our friendly team on (07) 3202 5360 to make an appointment.
During a skin check at our Bellbowrie skin cancer clinic, we can either take a look at one or more moles individually that you’re concerned about or we can conduct a full body exam. For the full body exam, you will be required to take off your clothes and put on a medical gown. Our doctor will look at every inch of your skin and ask if there are any moles that concern you. The skin check should take no longer than 15 minutes.
If a potential skin cancer is detected, the mole may need to be removed and sent away for biopsy testing. When removing the mole, a shot of numbing medicine will be injected into the area. The sample will then be sent off to a lab. If the test comes back positive for skin cancer, our clinic will be in touch about where to go from here and advise on the next steps to take.
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Click on the drop downs below for more information.
Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common cancer found during routine skin checks, accounting for approximately 70% of non-melanoma skin cancers. It is often found on the head, neck, face, upper body, and areas frequently exposed to the sun.
Appearance
BCCs may appear as a pale coloured, dry, scaly patch, as a pearly lump, or as a bright pink, shiny spot. BCCs may bleed and become inflamed, or appear to heal before breaking down again.
From puberty to menopause, caring for your breasts is an important part of being a woman. We facilitate breast care at all stages of life, from arranging mammograms to breastfeeding advice and regular breast checks.
Squamous cell carcinoma makes up about 30% of the non-melanoma skin cancers. SCCs often grow rapidly and may spread to other parts of the body, making regular skin checks essential.
Appearance
SCCs often appear as a rapidly growing lump, as a red, scaly patch or a sore that won’t heal. They are sometimes mistaken for a boil and can feel tender when touched. They are most commonly found in areas of frequent sun exposure, such as the head, face, neck and limbs.
Melanoma is the least common but by far the most serious skin cancer. An estimated 1,700 deaths from melanoma occurred in 2016, with approximately 13,000 new cases diagnosed. We advise regular skin checks for anyone with a higher risk of melanoma.
Appearance
Melanoma may appear as a change in the size, shape or colour of an existing mole or it may appear as a new mole. It may bleed or ooze and can feel itchy, hard, swollen or tender when touched.
Skin cancer is very serious. To understand the importance of regular skin cancer checks, read these facts to get a better understanding of the risks, impact and probability of diagnosis:
Some people are at greater risk of skin cancer than others. The risk factors include:
When it comes to skin checks Brisbane residents are particularly susceptible to skin cancer due to the extensive amount of sun exposure in our sunny city all year round. So, whether you fall under these risk factors or not, it’s always recommended to have regular skin checks once a year.
Our family practice and skin cancer clinic is conveniently located in Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza, just off Moggill Road. Plenty of free parking is available and our clinic is easily accessible from Taringa, Annerley, Kenmore and surrounding areas.
All of our GPs are experienced, compassionate and well-equipped to carry out thorough skin checks. Every skin check in Brisbane is bulk billed when visiting our skin cancer clinic in Bellbowrie. That means there are no out of pocket expenses for you if you’re a Medicare card holder.
So, with a convenient location, experienced doctors and bulk billed Brisbane skin checks, there’s no reason not to book in your annual skin cancer check with us at Bellbowrie Family Practice.
When living in the Sunshine state, regular skin checks should be an essential part of your regular healthcare regime, so when making a skin check appointment, look no further than Bellbowrie Family Practice.
At Bellbowrie Family Practice, we use up-to-date technology and our professional team stays current with best-practice diagnosis and treatment, so make your appointment today.
Call our friendly team on (07) 3202 5360 or use our online booking service.