Put Your Mind at Ease with a Professional Assessment

If you're concerned about any individual spots or moles, we offer a dermoscopy investigation for up to three lesions. For a more comprehensive check, or if you'd like to easily monitor changes in your skin over time, our team can perform a full body scan.

If you have a history of skin screenings or biopsies, please bring any previous records to your appointment. This will help us better assess your skin cancer risk and understand any past treatments you've received.


What to Expect at Your Appointment

Skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body, even in areas not typically exposed to the sun. Depending on your needs, your appointment might involve:

Dermoscopy Investigation

For a focused examination of specific lesions, a nurse will use a dermatoscope to closely inspect the areas of concern.

A cellphone is connected to a skin viewing tool

Full Body Scan

If a full examination is needed, a nurse will conduct a thorough, head-to-toe assessment—including the scalp, feet, and genital areas. We prioritize your comfort and recognize that some areas may be sensitive, but it's crucial not to overlook any suspicious spots

A cell phone mounted to skin checking tool

Preparation for Your Appointment:

Please come without makeup or nail polish. These products can obscure areas of your skin where cancer might develop, so clean, bare skin is essential for an accurate screening.


Biopsy Process

If any suspicious areas are identified during your screening, a biopsy may be recommended. This quick and straightforward procedure can be completed onsite at Te Mata Peak Practice. We will numb the area, remove a small tissue sample, and send it to a lab for analysis. We will contact you when we have the results back from the lab (normally 1 to 3 weeks), most findings are not cancerous. Even if cancer is detected, many cases can be treated easily. Should treatment be necessary, we'll work with you to develop a personalised care plan.


Surgical Options

We perform most skin cancer surgeries at Te Mata Peak Practice. Each procedure is unique, and our team will guide you through what to expect when discussing your surgery. Most insurance companies cover these procedures, and funding may also be available for eligible patients.


Should You Get Checked?

Skin cancers can look different depending on your skin tone, the size and type of the lesion, and its location. Regularly monitor your skin, particularly spots and moles, to catch any changes early. Watch out for:

  • New spots, moles, or freckles that change colour, texture, or shape over a short period.
  • Sores or lesions that are crusty, scaly, or don't heal.
  • Small lumps that are red, inflamed, or have a pearly, translucent appearance.

Early detection is key. Treating skin cancer at an early stage can often prevent disfigurement and improve outcomes. Consider a screening if you:

  • Have multiple moles.
  • Are worried about a specific spot or mole.
  • Experienced significant sun exposure or sunburns growing up.
  • Have used sunbeds or solariums.
  • Haven't had a full body skin check recently.
  • Have noticed any recent changes to your skin.

If you live in New Zealand, regular skin checks are recommended due to the increased risk of skin cancer.

 

Self checking - the ABCDEFG’s of melanoma skin cancer

The first step starts with you. Take a moment to look at your skin. Do you know what warning signs and symptoms to look for when you are checking yourself for skin cancer?


The ABCDEFG rule helps us better remember common characteristics of melanoma by thinking about them alphabetically. Most moles on the body look similar to one another, while melanoma moles appear peculiar, or they stand out from those around them.

Guide To Help Self Checking

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