Skin cancers including melanoma are the most common human malignancy.
Early skin cancers and melanoma are easily treated cancers if caught early by proper evaluation, diagnosis and surgical removal.
Skin cancer and melanoma are surgical problems and a complete service is offered from detection and skin checks to definitive surgical treatment by Gippsland Skin Cancer and Melanoma Clinic at 8 Pearson Street, Bairnsdale. Service St Medical Centre, a general practice co-located at 8 Pearson Street, may also be able to help and also with a referral.
Gippsland Melanoma and Skin Cancer Clinic is a specialist skin cancer and melanoma service run from 8 Pearson Street and also at Fitzpatrick House in Sale by Mr Adrian Aitken, a Specialist General Surgeon MBBS PhD FRACS.
For advanced, difficult or complex situations close collaboration and liaison is undertaken with colleagues at Peter MacCallum, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Parkville for access to complex oncology and cancer trials.
A referral, either a standard referral or indefinite referral, is required from a general practitioner for access to medicare rebates, so just ask your GP.
The majority of procedures are done either in-house under local anaesthetic and take about half an hour or so. More involved procedures requiring a general anaesthetic can be done at Maryvale Private Hospital either through a health fund if insured or self-funded.
The worst part of the procedure is the injection lasting only a few seconds, but the rest of the procedure is comfortable and painless.
A full explanation of the procedure including clinical and financial consent is done at the initial consultation and a booking made at a suitable time or in some circumstances the procedure can be made on the same day. When sutures are removed at follow-up a pathology report is supplied and explained, and a letter written back to the referring general practitioner including the report.
Charges are moderate and appropriate to the complexity of the problem. Quotes are given if requested with the initial consultation although the complex nature of medicare billing including multiple procedures and individual threshold medicare payments make it difficult to give on the spot billing charges. Aftercare is included without additional charges.
In all situations great care is taken on minimising the cosmetic impact. The mark of a good surgeon is not to leave a mark and if possible to make any scar as invisible as possible. This is achieved through a combination of planning, knowledge, specialist expertise and good post-operative care.
Contact with Gippsland Melanoma and Skin Cancer and Fitzpatrick House is just a phone call away. Wait times are short and urgent referrals may be able to be seen the same day. For referrals and questions please phone Fitzpatrick House and chat to any of the experienced and friendly staff.
