Overview. If a GP diagnoses or suspects melanoma, they may remove the spot (excision biopsy) or refer you to another doctor, such as a dermatologist or surgeon, for the biopsy. A pathologist will examine the biopsy specimen to confirm a melanoma diagnosis.
Diagnosis. Your GP can examine your skin for signs of skin cancer. They may refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist) or a specialist plastic surgeon if they are unsure or suspect skin cancer. Your GP may refer you urgently, within 2 weeks, for squamous cell skin cancer.
Diagnosing melanoma
Speak to your GP if you notice any change to your moles. Your GP will refer you to a specialist clinic or hospital if they think you have melanoma. In most cases, a suspicious mole will be surgically removed and studied to see if it is cancerous. This is known as a biopsy.
Background. The skin biopsy is a simple but essential clinical skill of the general practitioner. Performed properly, it can be quick and comfortable for the patient, and yield a very high level of diagnostic information. Performed incorrectly, it can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment for the patient.
If melanoma is suspected, you should have an excisional biopsy. This will either be done by your GP or they will refer you to a dermatologist or surgeon.
How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.
Understanding the results of your biopsy
It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get the results of your biopsy. You usually go back to your GP or skin specialist (dermatologist) for these. You need treatment to the area if the skin sample contains any cancerous cells.
Malignant melanoma referral guidelines
Urgently refer (appointment within two weeks) if: a person presents with a suspicious pigmented skin lesion that has a weighted seven-point checklist score of three or more. OR a dermoscopy suggests malignant melanoma of the skin.
Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour. Or you might notice other changes such as a mole bleeding, itching or becoming crusty. Normal moles usually stay the same size, shape, and colour.
Often melanoma has no symptoms, however, the first sign is generally a change in an existing mole or the appearance of a new spot. These changes can include: colour - a mole may change in colour, have different colour shades or become blotchy. size - a mole may appear to get bigger.
A GP can perform a skin check and examine any lesions of concern. They are familiar with your history, can talk to you about risk factors and family history, and treat some skin cancers. They might also refer you to a dermatologist, if needed.
You may see one or more of the following doctors to diagnose and treat skin cancer: General practitioner (GP) – treat most people with BCCs and SCCs. Treatment may include surgery and/or creams or gels.
Stage 1 skin cancer can vary in appearance depending on the type of skin cancer. Generally, it appears as a small growth or sore with a pearly or waxy appearance. It may also look like a red, scaly patch or a pink or flesh-colored bump.
The most common type of melanoma usually appears as a flat or barely raised lesion with irregular edges and different colours. Fifty per cent of these melanomas occur in preexisting moles.
Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.
How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.
General symptoms
hard lump on your skin. unexplained pain. feeling very tired or unwell.
Blood tests aren't used to diagnose melanoma, but some tests may be done before or during treatment, especially for more advanced melanomas. Doctors often test blood for levels of a substance called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) before treatment.
Can you diagnose without a biopsy? The short answer is no. While imaging and blood draws can show suspicious areas or levels, removing tissue and studying it is the only way to diagnose cancer 100%. Home tests to detect things like colon cancer only look for blood or DNA markers in your stool.
Medicare will provide a rebate to applicable patients, of approximately 30-50% of the fees charged, and our staff can process the Medicare claim at our rooms.
Generally, after a patient receives positive melanoma results, his or her doctors will need to proceed with staging the malignancy— which essentially means determining the extent of the cancer—and developing a treatment plan based on how far the cancer has progressed.
If melanoma is suspected, you should have an excisional biopsy. This will either be done by your GP or they will refer you to a dermatologist or surgeon.
For melanoma, a biopsy of the suspicious skin area, called a lesion, is the only sure way for the doctor to know if it is cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue for testing in a laboratory.