The prevention and early detection of skin cancer in general practice

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