This activity will guide GPs through the epidemiology of skin cancers in Australia, skin cancer prevention, balanced approach to UV and vitamin D awareness and the diagnosis and management of melanoma and the most common non-melanoma skin cancers.
This education is also available as three separate 2 hour activities: Biopsy Techniques, Skin Cancer Prevention & Vitamin D, Diagnosis and management of non-melanoma skin cancer and Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. The separate activities may be applicable to you if you do not want to complete the 6-hour advanced course, and are only interested in one or two of the topics.
By completing this learning activity, participants will be able to:
- Advise patients about maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels based on understanding the UV index, SunSmart UV alert, sun exposure and sun protection recommendations.
- Diagnose and manage the most common skin cancers in Australia.
- Identify clinical and histopathological features of lesions indicating the need for specialist referral.
- Select biopsy techniques for suspicious lesions and use the appropriate excision margins for melanoma according to Breslow thickness.
- Use a systematic approach to full skin examination and educate patients about skin cancer prevention.
Lead authors:
Dr Sarah McDonald, Clinical Fellow, Victorian Melanoma Service
Dr Alvin Chong, Senior Lecturer in Dermatology, University of Melbourne
Project management:
Philippa Davis, Primary Health Program, Cancer Council Victoria
Shannon Jones, SunSmart Victoria, Cancer Council Victoria
This education is sponsored by Cancer Council Victoria.