Moles and skin cancer
Moderator: talkhealth
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:44 pm
Moles and skin cancer
Why is it so difficult to get moles checked in the UK. Medical experts ask us to keep an eye on these but when you have lots all over the body it’s virtually impossible. GPs will only check if you have an odd looking one and private places will charge you per mole. We need a better system one that is preemptive rather than reactive.
- Dr Nevianna Bordet
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 12:27 pm
Re: Moles and skin cancer
Thank you for raising this issue. I totally agree with you that prevention is better than treatment. I often say to my patients that I am puzzled why people will go for an annual dental check and eye test but not for an annual skin check. I think the reason we have this problem in the UK is that we do not have enough resources. There are not enough doctors (GPs or dermatologists) for the size of the population. A political rather than a medical issue. I often have patients that will come privately for a mole check and I always examine their skin from head to toe. They can then take photographs of their skin and monitor it for future change. I believe in educating my patients so they know the changes to look out for as often it is the patient who notices a change first. This works very well for most people. I am shocked to hear that you are being charges per mole and I am happy to say that the dermatology colleagues I work with do not do this.
- Dr Sree Krishna
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 6:06 pm
- Location: London
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Contact: Contact Dr Sree Krishna
Re: Moles and skin cancer
Hello,
Agreed - it's a bit of a disaster! While it's not ideal, it can be useful to take serial photographs to monitor your skin and if changes occur, it would be quite reasonable to see your GP. Alternatively, there are GPs who specialise in skin and can be very knowledgeable without the need to come to the hospital.
We need more dermatologists!
Best wishes,
Sree
Agreed - it's a bit of a disaster! While it's not ideal, it can be useful to take serial photographs to monitor your skin and if changes occur, it would be quite reasonable to see your GP. Alternatively, there are GPs who specialise in skin and can be very knowledgeable without the need to come to the hospital.
We need more dermatologists!
Best wishes,
Sree
Dr Sreedhar Krishna
Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Clinical Fellow in Dermatopathology
https://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/c ... ar-krishna
Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Clinical Fellow in Dermatopathology
https://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/c ... ar-krishna