Although anyone can develop skin cancer, this is an unusual illness, twice as likely to occur in those who are least deprived. (Data courtesy of Cancer Research UK)
The reason for the statistics above is straightforward, exposure to the sun on overseas holidays. A popular pursuit in the UK, where the incidence of melanoma is increasing and more people die from this than in sun baked Australia.
There is however a balance to the issue. Diagnosis and treatment for skin cancers have advanced in recent years and more people are seeing the value in early detection, through dedicated screening programs.
Skin Care Network are proud to have created one of the first UK integrated skin cancer services. Covering all types, although with a particular emphasis on early detection of the most dangerous condition, malignant melanoma.
International Evidence
Other centres of excellence exist across the globe, in New York, Sidney, Barcelona. They have proven that consultant led screening, combined with total body photography and integrated digital dermoscopy is vital.
All skin cancers, not least melanomas, can be identified at a much earlier stage, whilst they still appear quite normal. This dramatically reduces the risk of missing a cancer, or presenting with a late, harder to treat melanoma.
We have analysed and adopted best practice from around the world to build our own service. This includes skin cancer screening programs, utilising the latest imaging equipment and diagnostic technology.
Alongside computer controlled body imaging, our clinics offer reflectance confocal microscopy to look beneath your skin and electrical impedence spectroscopy to analyse subtle, unseen changes in your skin.
Together with our team of respected skin cancer consultants, our equipment leads the way for skin cancer care in UK private clinics.
Full Spectrum Care
Care should include better education on the dangers of sun exposure and sun protection, along with the key role skin cancer screening plays. We are also involved in ethically approved, clinical research into early detection.
Accurate diagnosis equally reduces the number of normal moles which are biopsied, or removed. We know of many cases where ‘mole clinics’ have carried out unneccesary removals, with a physical and psychological impact on patients.
This can put people off screening, which makes sense for those with previous melanomas, atypical naevus syndrome, or a related family history. For all of us however, the best skin cancer treatment is early detection.
Our London clinics are there for all cases, however complex and whatever type of skin cancer requires treatment. Advanced techniques such as Mohs surgery are available, along with a full range of care.
The reason we put so much emphasis on screening is to minimise treatment and make this as non invasive as possible. Please talk to our staff about how we can help and the advanced skin cancer treatment facilities our clinics offer.
If you would like further detail on the tests we use:
- See a flow chart and guide: Screening Step By Step.
For any advice, or to arrange a screening appointment, call 020 3535 7850, or send us an email via the Make An Appointment button below.