Info for Doctors
SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre has been created to provide quality care to our patients and our community. We recognise and respect that skin cancer care is provided in many different settings and how we interact with, and compliment other services and doctors is important to us.
There are a range of services available at SunLife that you can access. Do you have a patient that needs a detailed skin check by a trained practitioner? Do you have a difficult skin lesion that may need a biopsy or excision? Would your patient benefit from 3D TBP or White Light PDT? Together we can make a plan for your patient to access these services, either returning them to your ongoing care or to continue care with a doctor at SunLife.
3D Total Body Photography
A new era in skin cancer care and smart medical technology is here! Canfield’s Vectra WB360 Ultra-High-Definition 3D images allow detailed review and comparison of skin lesions.
Key information about 3D TBP:
- Identify changing lesions for clinical assessment
- Identify unchanged lesions (prevent avoidable biopsies)
- Secure storage with patient access to their own images
- In the near future, referring doctors will also be able to access and use the imaging software remotely (permissions and access needed)
- The only privately available 3D TBP in SE Queensland
- Visit the Canfield website for further information
Who Should Have 3D TBP?
3D TBP is of most benefit to patients with: many naevi, personal or family history of melanoma, or a high melanoma risk (see melanoma institute).
Patients having 3D TBP still need to have full body skin check and a review of the images with an appropriately trained and experienced doctor. Doctors at SunLife offer this service routinely – please send a letter to one of the doctors requesting this and you will be kept informed of your patient’s care.
If you are a doctor providing Skin Cancer Care and would like to review the images and patient yourself, please write a letter requesting 3D TBP directly to SunLife. If this is the first time you are requesting this service, please contact Joyce to discuss how this can be organised.
White Light Photodynamic Therapy
Our PDT room is custom designed with high lumen LED lights fitted to the walls to provide the best PDT outcomes in the shortest time. Key information about White Light PDT:
- Not painful, unlike conventional Red Light PDT
- Reliable and quick, unlike daylight PDT
- Proven treatment for actinic keratoses, with associated risk reduction for IEC and SCC development
- Treats sun damaged skin by significantly reducing troublesome excess keratin, reducing pigment, and reducing visible sun damage
- Can treat multiple areas in one sitting, e.g.: face, sternum, and forearms
All patients undergoing PDT at SunLife will need to see a doctor at the centre first, as the doctor overseeing the treatment will need to confirm it is appropriate and counsel the patient. Please indicate in your letter if a full skin check has been performed or if one is needed.
Problem Lesions for Treatment / Excision
Doctors at SunLife deal with difficult skin cancers every day. Have you found a lesion that you’re unsure how to biopsy? Or you’re uncomfortable treating or excising? A doctor at SunLife can usually help.
The doctor will always assess the patient prior to any procedure, discuss any options for treatment and ensure consent. Please see the doctors’ profiles for individual details on their skills.
A problem lesion treatment can be as a one off or the beginning of ongoing care, please indicate this in your letter. If you have any questions, please get in contact and one of the doctors will be happy to help.
Full Body Skin Checks
Comprehensive skin cancer checks are what doctors at SunLife do. Many patients would benefit from a skin check. The higher their risk, the more important it is to have regular skin checks.
A reminder of key risk factors: previous skin cancer (any type), skin types I-III, high mole count, family history, visible sun damage, and cumulative UV exposure.
A good risk assessment tool can be found on the SCCA’s SCAN Your Skin site. Please share any specific concerns with a letter to one of the doctors at SunLife.
Question and Information Sessions
The team and the doctors at SunLife are happy to help with any questions over the phone or by email via the contact details below.
We also actively engage in professional and community information sessions. These are held intermittently at our Care Centre and can also be arranged at your place of work or at a community venue.
Contact
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Joyce Hardy
We look forward
to seeing you soon.
