Australia, known even in its own national anthem as ‘a sunburnt country’, has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The truth is that there is no immunity from skin cancer, and prevention is imperative. The iconic ‘slip, slop, slap’ campaign reminds us all of the precautions to take before heading out into the scorching WA sun, though regular check-ups should be considered just as essential a precautionary measure.

In cases of treatment, early diagnosis is always best, so Australians are urged to get regular skin cancer check-ups, particularly if moles or freckles have grown in size or changed appearance, become painful or itchy, or in cases when new moles or freckles have developed.

The doctors at Shenton Avenue Medical Centre use the latest and most accurate methods of detection, such as dermoscopy, to detect skin melanomas even at their smallest, preliminary stages. This helps to achieve early diagnosis, which can lead to an immediate treatment.

In some cases, our doctors will need to perform a biopsy, which will require surgically removing a piece of tissue to test. Our doctors perform these biopsies on-site, always ensuring to minimise pain and intrusion with any minor surgical procedure. Samples are examined at our on-site pathology laboratory, ensuring fast and accurate results.