Diagnosis and treatment

If you notice a change on your skin, such as new spot or an existing spot, freckle or mole that has changed in colour, shape or size, you should see your doctor.

Skin cancer is diagnosed by physical examination and biopsy. A biopsy is a quick and simple procedure where part or all of the spot is removed and sent to a laboratory. This can be done by your doctor, or you may be referred to a specialist dermatologist or surgeon.

Treating non-melanoma skin cancer

Most people with BCC (basal cell carcinoma) and SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) are cured. These cancers usually are removed in a doctor's surgery.

Read more: Common skin cancers  (Cancer Council Victoria website)

Treating melanoma

Treatments for melanoma include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy (drug treatment).

For most people who develop melanoma, surgery is all that is required. The melanoma will be cut out along with a small area of skin around the melanoma. In some cases a second procedure may be needed to remove a wider area of skin.

Additional treatment may be needed depending on the type of melanoma, how far it has spread, and the person’s general health.

Treatment for melanoma is most effective when the cancer is found and treated in its early stages, when it is still in the top or outer layer of skin. So it’s important to get your doctor to check out any changes early.

If you notice a change on your skin, such as a new spot or an existing spot, freckle or mole that has changed in colour, shape or size, you should see your doctor.

Read more: Melanoma: A guide for people with melanoma information  (PDF, 2.7MB) (Cancer Society of New Zealand) 

For more information phone the Cancer Society’s cancer information helpline: 0800 CANCER (0800 226 237)