Skin Cancer Treatment in Somerset West

If a doctor has told you a spot on your skin may be a skin cancer, or a biopsy has confirmed one, you want it treated properly and without a long wait. At West-Med The Sanctuary in Somerset West, our doctors diagnose and treat skin cancer on site, from the first dermoscopy assessment through biopsy and excision to the histology that confirms it has been fully removed. You are usually seen within 7 working days, at times up to 4 weeks when the waiting list is long, compared with roughly 6 months for a specialist dermatologist appointment.

Skin cancers we treat

Most of the skin cancers we see grow on skin that has had years of sun: the face, ears, scalp, neck, forearms and the backs of the hands.

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): the most common skin cancer. It often looks like a shiny or pearly bump, or a sore that bleeds, crusts and heals, then comes back. It grows slowly and rarely spreads, but it keeps growing into the surrounding skin until it is removed.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): a rough, scaly or crusted patch, or a firm growth that does not heal, usually on sun-exposed skin. It needs to be removed completely, because a small number can spread if left untreated.
• Suspicious lesions, including possible melanoma: a mole or spot that is new, changing or looks different from the rest. We assess it with dermoscopy and take a biopsy where needed, and if melanoma is confirmed we arrange the next step with a specialist without delay.

Rough, sun-damaged patches called actinic keratoses are not skin cancer, but some can become one. They are treated through our Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment Programme.

How skin cancer treatment works

1. Consultation and dermoscopy: your doctor examines the lesion with a dermatoscope, a magnifying light that shows structures the eye cannot see, and checks the skin around it.
2. Biopsy where needed: if the diagnosis is not certain, a small sample is taken under local anaesthetic and sent to the laboratory for histology.
3. Surgical excision: the lesion is removed with a margin of healthy skin around it. Where the wound needs it, the skin is closed with a reconstruction such as a local skin flap, in our sedation unit.
4. Histology: the removed tissue is examined in the laboratory to confirm the cancer has been fully removed. If the margins are not clear, we talk you through what comes next.
5. Follow-up: a wound check, your results, and a plan for the rest of your skin, which can include full body mole mapping to monitor your other moles.

Specialist backup when you need it

No specialist dermatologist works in our clinics, and we will not suggest otherwise. What we have instead are direct referral pathways with specialist dermatologists. High-risk cases are reviewed through a second-opinion service using images from the FotoFinder ATBM Master, so a specialist sees your lesion without you waiting months for an appointment, and a confirmed diagnosis means a faster referral and a faster biopsy.

Some skin cancers are better treated with Mohs surgery, a specialist technique that removes the cancer layer by layer while saving as much healthy skin as possible. It is often used on sensitive areas such as the eyelids, nose, lips and ears, and if your lesion is one of them we refer you directly.

Medical aid and costs

We are contracted with medical aids, and skin cancer excisions are charged within scheme rates, so co-payments are usually minimal. Your cover still depends on your scheme and plan: check whether we accept yours with our medical aid checker. If you are paying yourself, reception will give you a quote after your consultation.

Who you will see

Dr Esther Scott

Dr Esther Scott leads skin cancer care at The Sanctuary. She is a GP with a special interest in dermatology, with an MBChB from the University of the Free State and a Diploma in Dermatology from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Before focusing on skin she worked in plastic surgery alongside a specialist plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and that shapes how she plans an excision: remove what needs to go, and keep the scar as small and neat as possible.