Mole Check
I need to get some moles on my back/neck/shoulders checked. DH just had a skin cancer removed, and it's about time I stopped finding excuses to not get my moles checked.
So, do I visit a GP, dermatologist, skin clinic? How do I go about this?
TIA
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
I've made an appt with my GP to do it. They also have someone in the clinic who specialises in it. I think you can just go to a skin clinic too. A colleague goes to one where they map them, take photos and can compare any changes over time.
My mum just had skin cancer removed as well. Her GP found it and sent her to a specialist to have it removed.
Registered User
a dermatologist will do it. They can map them and also remove them. When they're removed they are sent for histology to make sure they are nothing sinister. I can recommend a good one in Vic if you want to go private. Or St Vincent's has some great ones on the public system (just get a referral from your GP).
Registered User
I go to my GP, she does it, and refers any scary looking ones on. There haven't been any scary looking ones, apparently. I have pointed out everything scary to her, and she thinks they'r all normal.
Good luck. I kind of like getting it done.
Registered User
My GP says the best place to go is a molescan place. They have better equipment to look at them than a GP. I had a few worrying ones which I showed to 3 GPS who all said they were fine. When I went to the molescan place though he said there was no possible way you could say they weren't melanoma's without testing them and they looked very suspicious so he took them off. Luckily they weren't melanoma, they were something else and he got all of it which is good. So I won't trust a GP again for checking my skin.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Just had mine checked and have a basal cell carcinoma on my back. Glad I got them checked.
The GP said she could remove it, but as it could leave a scar and I'm vain as hell, she's given me the name of a plastic surgeon to do it. Anyone else had one removed that way? Apparently the procedure will be $400-600 out of pocket.
I got mine checked last week by a GP who specializes in skin stuff - all clear. But he was the doctor who removed my DHs skin cancer from his face and did a great job. I can PM you his details if you need.
I think the procedure was covered by Medicare but the pathology fees were about $250.
Tash i had exactly the same one on my upper back of arm and had it removed last December, i chose to go plastic surgeon because basically as my GP indicated they are gonna do a 'prettier' job then just a usual surgeon. And being visable on my arm i wanted the best job done and i can't express how thrilled i was with the result and it was worth every cent !
My health insurance didn't cover it so it cost me out-of-pocket nearly $400 and included in that i also had two very small moles removed around the wrist on the same arm. (my GP informed me plastic surgeons DO cost more).
Just some food for thought my GP originally cut it out to be sent for a biopsy and the plastic surgeon later on told me she never cut it all out properly so made it harder to test.
After it all healed and was no longer a fresh wound i popped Bio-Oil on each morning after i towel dried (and i never bothered with applying twice a day as recommened on bottle and even though there is a scar still it's nothing like it was originally, it's faded and a lot shorter).
Don't freak out like i did when i first saw it cause it seriously looked like a big dog took a big bite out of me, but by a few months it shrunk heaps in size and started to even out but having said that i do still have a chunk missing out of my arm but nothing like it was in the beginning when i had it removed.
Once one of these is found on the body they do take it very seriously and you can either chose to have your GP check for moles every year or do what i have opted to have this plastic surgeon at the SkinSpot clinic check it for me every year as he is the expect after all and he has the high-tech googles which obviously my GP didn't have !
The surgeon and nurse were so fantastic and went to every effort to make sure i was comfortable during the procedure.
All the best Tash, anything else you need to know please feel free to ask or even PM me anytime (keep me in mind after you have it done too if you need me)
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Thanks S4U. This guy is highly recommended. I'll probably talk to my GP about it again before I decide. I mean the thing has to come out obviously, I just want to make sure they get it all and it's not too bad afterwards.
Tash your so welcome, i have to say i felt better for getting it out as soon as i did and more so for peace of mind too !
that's brilliant he comes highly recommended, you are probably like me and asked for the best of the best ... i wanted it done properly and made to look the best it possibly could ! ... my surgeon even cut a tiny skin tag off my armpit (which to be honest never bothered me) and i asked how much more would it cost and he said " Consider it a Xmas gift ", lol and i got that done for free, whoo hoo some surgeons are generous after all
the procedure i had done didn't take long which was great and they got me to come back a few days later (i think it was 2 or 3days later ??) and they also offered to change the bandages if i felt i couldn't do it myself much later on at home, so that was handy to know !
keeping in mind if your paying for a plastic surgeon i would imagine the service more accomodating as i found
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