Discovering a suspicious spot or receiving a skin cancer diagnosis brings uncertainty and fear. Questions about treatment, outcomes, and recovery are natural and deserve clear, compassionate answers. At South Yarra Dermatology, we understand that skin cancer treatment is more than removing abnormal cells. It’s about safeguarding your health, restoring confidence, and supporting you at every step.
We never begin treatment without first understanding your situation. What brought you here today: a changing spot, a routine check, or a referral from another doctor? Have you had skin cancer before? Are there specific concerns you want us to address, such as scarring, recovery time, or procedure details? Your answers guide every decision we make.
We prioritise clear, practical information. We explain your diagnosis, outline your options, and walk you through what each step involves so you understand not just what we’re doing, but why it’s the best approach for you. Our goal is to make you an active partner in your care, reducing uncertainty and helping you feel confident throughout the process.
We never begin treatment without first understanding your situation. What brought you here today: a changing spot, a routine check, or a referral from another doctor? Have you had skin cancer before? Are there specific concerns you want us to address, such as scarring, recovery time, or procedure details? Your answers guide every decision we make.
We prioritise clear, practical information. We explain your diagnosis, outline your options, and walk you through what each step involves so you understand not just what we’re doing, but why it’s the best approach for you. Our goal is to make you an active partner in your care, reducing uncertainty and helping you feel confident throughout the process.
Every skin story is different, and so is every approach to skin cancer care. Before recommending treatments, we take time to understand your skin history, risk factors, and concerns. This helps us create a screening and treatment plan that’s tailored to your skin and your health goals.
Best for: Superficial basal cell carcinomas, precancerous lesions, thin squamous cell carcinomas in low-risk locations
Recovery period: 1-3 weeks; possible blistering, crusting, and temporary pigment changes
Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy abnormal skin cells, forming ice crystals that kill the tissue. The procedure takes only a few minutes and may cause brief cold or discomfort. It’s especially effective for early-stage, low-risk skin cancers and precancerous lesions, and can be performed quickly without cutting or stitches. Because no tissue is removed for microscopic examination, we reserve it for cases where the diagnosis and extent are clear.
Best for: Superficial basal cell carcinomas, precancerous lesions (actinic keratoses), certain cases of carcinoma in situ
Recovery period: 4-12 weeks of application; significant inflammation, crusting, and healing for several weeks
Topical medications treat superficial skin cancers by stimulating the immune system or targeting cancer cells directly through creams or gels applied at home. They’re suitable for larger or multiple lesions where surgery is less practical, and for treating broad areas of sun-damaged skin. Redness, crusting, and discomfort are common signs that the treatment is working. We monitor your progress closely to manage any side effects.
Best for: Most types of skin cancer, particularly invasive melanomas, larger lesions, or cancers requiring tissue examination
Recovery period: Stitches removed in 5-14 days, depending on location; complete healing in 3-6 weeks
Surgical excision remains the gold standard for most skin cancers. We remove the tumour with a margin of healthy skin and send the tissue for laboratory analysis to confirm all cancer cells have been removed. Performed under local anaesthetic, the wound is carefully closed to promote healing and minimise scarring. This approach provides certainty, confirming diagnosis, complete removal, and any high-risk features, and often results in a cure for that lesion.
Best for: Superficial basal cell carcinomas, extensive precancerous changes, field treatment of sun-damaged skin
Recovery period: Significant redness, swelling, and crusting for 7-14 days; complete healing 3-4 weeks
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitising cream and specialised light to destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The treated area may tingle or burn during light exposure and become inflamed or crusty afterwards, peaking around days three to five. PDT works well for superficial cancers, large areas, or multiple lesions, and offers excellent cosmetic outcomes without surgery.
Skin cancer can affect anyone, at any stage of life. Whether you’re young and concerned about sun exposure, noticing a changing lesion, or seeking preventive screening, our dermatologists provide personalised care focused on early detection, effective treatment, and long-term skin health.
Your first appointment focuses on understanding your diagnosis. We’ll examine the area carefully, often using dermoscopy, a specialised magnifying tool that reveals details invisible to the naked eye. If we haven’t yet confirmed the diagnosis, we may recommend a biopsy to establish exactly what we’re treating. Once we have that certainty, we’ll discuss which treatment approaches make sense for your specific situation, considering the cancer type, its location, and what matters most to you.
We’ll explain each relevant option: what the treatment involves, expected recovery timeline, potential scarring, and success rates. You’ll leave your consultation understanding not just what we recommend, but why this approach offers the best balance for your particular circumstances.
Skin cancer brings real uncertainty, but you don’t face it alone. We’re here to provide both the clinical expertise to treat your cancer effectively and the support to help you feel informed and confident throughout the process.
Skin cancer rarely announces itself clearly. Most people notice something that seems different: a spot that has changed, a new growth that persists, or something that bleeds easily. For melanoma, we use the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter over 6mm, and Evolution (any change). Basal cell carcinomas often appear as pearly bumps or flat, scar-like lesions. Squamous cell carcinomas present as firm red nodules or scaly, crusted patches.
If something concerns you, whether it fits textbook descriptions or simply feels wrong, that warrants professional evaluation. We would rather examine ten benign spots than have you delay getting one cancer checked. Trust your instincts and seek diagnostic expertise.
The primary cause is ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds. UV damages DNA in skin cells, and when that damage accumulates beyond what your body can repair, cancer may develop. However, the relationship is not straightforward. Intense intermittent exposures causing sunburn, particularly in childhood, significantly increase melanoma risk. Chronic exposure contributes more to basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Genetic background matters enormously: fair skin, light hair, and family history dramatically elevate risk.
Many patients developed damage decades ago, before sun protection became widely understood. Self-blame rarely serves you. What matters now is treating what has developed, protecting your skin going forward, and maintaining appropriate surveillance. You cannot change past exposures, but you absolutely can influence future risk.
This depends entirely on which type you have. Most basal cell carcinomas do not spread to other organs and are not life-threatening, though left untreated, they grow relentlessly and can cause significant local destruction. Squamous cell carcinomas carry a small but real metastatic risk. Most are cured with treatment, but certain high-risk features increase that danger. Melanoma’s lethality depends overwhelmingly on depth at detection. Very thin melanomas have excellent cure rates exceeding 95%. As thickness increases, so does metastatic risk, though new immunotherapies have transformed outcomes even for advanced disease.
The critical factor is early detection and treatment. Most skin cancer deaths are preventable through timely intervention. If you have been diagnosed, we will explain exactly what your particular cancer means for your prognosis. Those conversations are specific to your situation, not generalisations.
Yes, most treatments leave some scarring. The extent depends on the method used, cancer size and location, how your skin heals individually, and the closure technique. Surgical excision always creates a scar. We remove tissue and close the wound. Our goal is to make it as fine as possible while ensuring complete cancer removal. We align incisions with natural skin lines, use meticulous suturing, and sometimes employ reconstructive techniques for cosmetically sensitive areas. Face and neck scars often heal remarkably well. Legs and backs tend toward wider scars due to skin tension.
Non-surgical treatments also affect appearance. Cryotherapy often leaves permanent white spots. Topical treatments cause temporary inflammation but typically heal without scarring. We will use every technique available to minimise scarring while ensuring effective treatment. Many patients are pleasantly surprised by how well scars fade over months. What looks concerning immediately after surgery often becomes barely noticeable with time.
Treatment duration varies enormously. Cryotherapy takes five minutes, though full healing requires two to three weeks. Surgical excision might occupy an hour, followed by days to weeks of healing, depending on the location. Topical treatments require the longest commitment: daily applications for weeks to months with visible inflammation throughout.
Returning to activities depends on wound location. Most patients resume desk work immediately or within days. Facial excisions rarely limit activity significantly. Trunk or limb excisions, particularly larger ones, may restrict heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for several weeks. We provide specific guidance based on your situation. Generally, we want you to resume normal life as quickly and safely as possible. Most patients find any disruption manageable and temporary.
Recurrence risk depends on cancer type, treatment method, and complete removal. Basal cell carcinomas have low recurrence rates after proper surgical excision with clear margins, with most being permanently cured. Risk increases for larger tumours, aggressive subtypes, or challenging locations. Squamous cell carcinomas show similar low recurrence for standard-risk tumours. High-risk SCCs carry higher rates, sometimes warranting additional radiation therapy.
Melanoma recurrence correlates with initial thickness and high-risk features. Very thin melanomas rarely recur after excision. Thicker melanomas carry progressively higher risks, sometimes requiring additional immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Non-surgical treatments show higher recurrence rates because we cannot examine tissue confirming complete removal. Even if your particular cancer is cured, having one significantly increases your risk of developing new, unrelated skin cancers, making surveillance essential.
Absolutely. Once you have had one skin cancer, your risk of developing additional cancers increases substantially. Some studies suggest ten times higher than someone who has never had skin cancer. Surveillance frequency depends on cancer type and risk factors. After basal or squamous cell carcinoma, we typically recommend full skin exams every six to twelve months. After melanoma, intensity ranges from every three to four months for higher-risk patients to annually for very low-risk tumours.
These examinations cover your entire skin surface, not just where previous cancer was removed. Many patients discover their second or third skin cancer through surveillance visits before they would have noticed it themselves. Monthly self-examination is equally crucial. You become familiar with your skin and notice new developments or changes. Some melanoma patients require additional surveillance, like periodic scans, depending on their specific situation.
Yes, though your relationship with sun exposure should change permanently. Having had skin cancer does not mean living indoors, but sun protection becomes non-negotiable. This means seeking shade during peak hours (10am to 4pm), wearing protective clothing including wide-brimmed hats, applying broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen daily, and reapplying every two hours outdoors. Sunglasses help prevent eye damage and cancer around the eyes.
You do not need to abandon outdoor activities such as beach days, gardening, or golf. You need to adapt how you approach them. Morning walks instead of midday sun sessions. Sun-protective swim shirts. Shade structures and strategic breaks from direct exposure. Brief incidental exposures do not require extreme measures. Focus on preventing significant recreational and occupational exposures. Your outdoor life can continue. Just make sun protection as automatic as buckling your seatbelt.
This depends on your specific diagnosis and family risk factors. First-degree relatives of melanoma patients have approximately twice the average melanoma risk, reflecting shared genetic susceptibility and similar skin types. If you have had melanoma, your close relatives should definitely receive screening. For basal and squamous cell carcinomas, family clustering is less pronounced but still present.
Beyond family history, individual risk factors matter tremendously. Family members with fair skin, many moles, significant sun exposure history, or tanning bed use should receive regular checks regardless of family history. Children of skin cancer patients deserve particular attention. Establishing sun protection habits early and teaching self-examination creates lifelong benefits. We are happy to see family members for screening, and these visits often reinforce the importance of sun protection while establishing care relationships for future monitoring.
Each method works differently and suits different situations. Cryotherapy destroys tissue through extreme cold. It is simple, quick, and requires no cutting, but we cannot examine tissue afterwards to confirm complete removal. Topical treatments recruit your immune system or attack cancer cells directly, working well for superficial cancers but requiring weeks of application with significant inflammation. Surgical excision physically removes cancer with surrounding margins, provides tissue for microscopic examination, and achieves the highest cure rates. It is the gold standard for most situations, particularly invasive cancers and melanomas. Photodynamic therapy combines photosensitising medication with light to selectively destroy cancer cells, working well for superficial cancers across larger areas.
Choosing involves weighing cancer type and risk, location, your health and healing capacity, cosmetic priorities, and personal preferences. Sometimes the choice is clear. Invasive melanoma requires surgical excision. Other times, legitimate options exist. We guide these decisions by explaining which options apply and discussing advantages and limitations. Some patients prioritise avoiding surgery, accepting potentially higher recurrence risk. Others want the certainty surgery provides despite scarring concerns. Neither preference is wrong. What matters is making informed decisions aligned with your values.
Cost varies dramatically depending on treatment type, complexity, and insurance coverage. In Australia, Medicare covers medically necessary procedures, making skin cancer treatment much more affordable than in many countries. However, out-of-pocket expenses still exist. Specialists often charge gap fees, the difference between the Medicare rebate and the actual charge. Simple excisions usually incur smaller gaps than complex repairs requiring extensive reconstruction.
Before proceeding, we provide clear cost information. You will never be surprised by unexpected bills for straightforward procedures. If cost creates barriers, please discuss this openly. We can sometimes structure payment plans or discuss treatment timing. Delayed treatment often means cancers grow larger, requiring more extensive procedures and higher ultimate costs. What you are paying for is not simply the physical procedure. It is specialised expertise, accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection, and ongoing support through your treatment and recovery.
Absolutely, and you are far from alone in experiencing medical anxiety. Most skin cancer treatment requires local anaesthetic injections to numb the area. We use very fine needles and injection techniques designed to minimise discomfort. Most patients describe a small sting followed by pressure, uncomfortable for a few seconds, then numb. Several strategies help anxious patients: bringing a trusted friend, walking through what will happen beforehand, listening to music during procedures, or using deep breathing techniques. We can apply topical numbing cream before injections in some cases.
We never judge or dismiss anxiety. For severe anxiety unresponsive to these approaches, oral sedation is occasionally an option. Medication taken before your appointment reduces anxiety while keeping you conscious. What you absolutely should not do is avoid treatment because of needle fear. Untreated skin cancer creates far more significant problems than brief discomfort from anaesthetic injections. We are here to help you navigate this successfully, and many of our most anxious patients ultimately find the experience far less traumatic than they had imagined.
