You may see one or more of the doctors mentioned below.
Learn more about:
General practitioner (GP)
Many GPs diagnose and treat people with BCC and SCC skin cancers. They may perform surgery, cryotherapy or prescribe topical treatments. Some GPs have extra training related to skin cancer. Before choosing a GP, you can ask what experience or qualifications they have with skin cancer. You may see a GP at a general practice, medical centre or skin cancer clinic.
Skin cancer clinics are run by GPs with an interest in skin cancer. A GP may refer you to a dermatologist, surgeon or radiation or medical oncologist for larger areas or cancers that are hard to remove. If there’s a waiting list and spot of concern, your GP can ask for an earlier appointment.
Dermatologist
A doctor who diagnoses, treats and manages skin conditions and skin cancer. They perform surgery, cryotherapy and prescribe topical treatments.
To find a dermatologist near you that specialises in non-melanoma skin cancer, visit Australasian College of Dermatologists.
Radiation oncologist
A radiation oncologist prescribes and oversees a course of radiation therapy, which may be used to treat some skin cancers. A medical oncologist prescribes cancer drug therapies, which may be used for a small number of (usually) advanced skin cancers.
Surgeon
Some skin cancers are treated by surgeons:
- Surgical oncologists specialise in treating cancer with surgery; they manage complex skin cancers, including those that have spread to the lymph nodes.
- Reconstructive (plastic) surgeons are trained in surgical oncology and in complex reconstructive techniques for more difficult to treat areas (e.g. the nose, lips, eyelids and ears).
→ READ MORE: Skin cancer treatment
A/Prof Victoria Mar, Director, Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, VIC; Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Raelene Buchan, Consumer; Alison Button-Sloan, Consumer; Dr Margaret Chua, Radiation Oncologist, and the Skin Radiation Oncology team, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anne Cust, Deputy Director, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, Chair, National Skin Cancer Committee, Cancer Council, and faculty member, Melanoma Institute Australia; A/Prof Paul Fishburn, Skin Cancer Doctor, Norwest Skin Cancer Centre, NSW and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland; Danielle Goss, Melanoma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Amie St Clair Melanoma (part of Melanoma Institute Australia), Wagga Wagga, NSW; Louise Pellerade, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA: Dr Shireen Sidhu, Head of Dermatology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Amelia Smit, Research Fellow – Melanoma and Skin Cancer, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Dr Tony Tonks, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Canberra Plastic Surgery, ACT.
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