Skin Cancer Check-up

 SKIN CANCER CHECKUP TIME 

THE DAY I SAVED MY SISTER’S LIFE.

“IF IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR, IT’S A GOODYEAR!” IT’S A WELL-USED ADVERTISING SLOGAN FROM THE GOODYEAR CAR TYRE COMPANY BUT HAS THE BRUTAL TRUTH OF A LIFESAVING YEARLY HABIT. JUST LIKE YOUR YEARLY DENTIST CHECK-UP, THAT TRIP TO THE GP OR YEARLY OPTOMETRIST EYE TEST, GETTING YOUR SKIN CHECKED AFTER THE SUMMER IS A YEARLY EVENT THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE PENCILLED ON THE CALENDAR. HERE’S THE STORY OF HOW I INADVERTENTLY SAVED MY SISTER’S LIFE.

I don’t know about you, but I had one of those amazing family doctors, Dr Michael Campbell. He had been my family’s doctor since birth. About three years ago, I was 43 at the time, he hung up his boots and retired to the golf course. I mean, how dare he, was my fi rst thought. But to be fair in my eyes, he hadn’t aged a day in all the years. I honestly thought he was one of those guys, kind of like Yoda, never ages, will be going strong all my life. Now this is the important bit, Dr Campbell was old school GP, not that I really knew that as he had always been my doctor. It was the norm now that I think about. If I went to see him for a common cold, he would burn off a wart, tend to a wound, check my ears, throat, and go over me with a blue light and burn off those crusty bits of skin on my hands. It was just what he did, patient maintenance I assumed.

But that doesn’t happen anymore, the GP writes you a script for the fl u and you’re on your way. So, the crusty skin bits kept building up on my hands. We won’t talk about the warts but that’s neither here nor there.

One day at a marketing client visit to the Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic, owner Ross said to me upon leaving, “You really should get those checked out.” I did the usual, yeah-yeah one day. I’m a little busy now.

Megan, my sister, who was with me at the time, has many body moles. She said the same thing, you know the story, we’ve all done it. Six months, maybe even a year passed, and the skin on the hands were getting worse. So, I fi nally went and saw Dr Greg Cusick at the Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic.

Now this man is fascinating to listen to. His knowledge of skin and all the layers and ways the sun affects you, he made the visit amazingly interesting but mainly very informative in a simple easy language to understand.

Did you know Bob Marley died of a skin cancer melanoma? The guy was a Caribbean native, the sun and his lifestyle were one.

In the end, I left with such a relief of knowledge that I was okay, bar the 10 blisters on my hands from where the crusty spots were frozen off. But with a true sense of wow, that guy really knows his stuff and now, so do I. On returning to the offi ce, I told my sister of my experience and she said to me, “Oh did you, I really need to do that too, why didn’t you book me in?” So instead, she made her own appointment.

Megan’s appointment went a little differently. Two moles looked a little fi shy and to Megan and the family’s shock, the results came back positive for Stage I melanoma. Holy sandcastles we thought, this isn’t good. The story ends well with several more melanoma moles removed as they were caught in the fi rst stages and dealt with so Megan is all okay. But, and here’s the kicker, Megan is healthy. She’s not a sunbather who hangs at the beach all summer. Would she have eventually gone and got her skin checked if I hadn’t gone to fi x an issue that my old GP regularly took care off, without me even thinking about it?

I think we all know the answer to this one and it’s a resounding, NO! If this had progressed past where they were at with the gravity of time, Megan, our family and her life could have been destroyed.

Do yourself and your family a favour. If you live in Australia, go and get your skin checked once a year. Period!

As the Surf Life Saving slogan for surf patrols states: “No Lives Lost!” It’s the goal of every summer.

Give Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic a call today and fi x a yearly ‘life saving’ calendar event. •

If you need a skin check, this is the best place to go.

I went for my fi rst check-up last September and Dr Greg found three stage 1 melanomas on my body. He saved my life. Let him save yours. WORDS: JOHN VICKERY

 SKIN CANCER CHECKUP TIME 

SKIN CANCER IS THE UNCONTROLLED GROWTH OF ABNORMAL SKIN CELLS.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Anyone can be at risk of developing skin cancer, though the risk increases as you get older.

Skin cancers occur when un-repaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations or genetic defects that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.

Anyone can get melanoma but these factors increase your risk: A family history of skin cancer. Large number of moles on your skin. Sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and burn easily. History of severe sun blistering and sunburns. Spent lots of time outdoors, unprotected. Actively tan or use solariums or sunlamps, or work outdoors.

SKIN CHECKS

Every year, most of us get our eyes and teeth checked. So, why should getting your skin checked be any different. It doesn’t take long to get your skin looked at by a Professional Skin Specialist. In fact, on average, it only takes 20 minutes for a full body wellness skin check.

Prevention is what’s essential to fi ghting melanoma. It’s also essential to see a doctor who has the experience, education and skills to fi ght the cancer fi ght.

From the start, you want to be seen by a medical doctor who has more than a decade solely detecting, diagnosing, monitoring and managing skin cancer. You want a clinic with the latest medical technologies to ensure you’re getting the best skin cancer advice, pathology performed by the best in Sydney, and if needed, surgery performed by someone dedicated solely to skin cancer surgeries.

That’s where Northern Beaches Skin Cancer Clinic come in. The team takes the time and care to assess your skin and spend the time required for a thorough examination from head to toe.

So every year - STOP, and say to yourself, “It’s time for my yearly skin check!”

You can book an appointment with our NBSCC’s specialist team online at www.nbscc.com.au or call their clinic on (02) 9999 0336. •

Now’s the BEST TIME

to get your SKIN CHECKED!

Book today!

www.nbscc.com.au

BUILDING Q1, LEVEL 2, SUITE 9, 4 DAYDREAM STREET, WARRIEWOOD (02) 9999 0336 // INFO@NBSCC.COM.AU

www.nbscc.com.au

THE GOTO GUY FOR SKIN CHECKS!

DR GREG CUSICK

MBBS, BSC CHEMISTRY (HONS 1), FRACGP, ADVANCED CLINICAL CERTIFICATE OF SKIN MEDICINE & SURGERY SCCA, ADVANCED CLINICAL CERTIFICATE IN DERMOSCOPY.

Meet Dr Greg Cusick. Greg is one of NBSCC’s resident Skin Cancer Doctors who likes to detect melanomas early. Actually, the smallest he’s found was under 2mm. Now that’s tiny!

Greg’ studied Science in Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 1995. He started a PhD, but after 2 years of research, decided that he would study medicine and graduated from University of New South Wales (UNSW) with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 2002. Passionate about diagnosing skin cancers early, Greg completed his Fellowship in General Practice (FRACGP) in 2008, followed by his Diploma in Skin Cancer Surgery and Medicine with the Skin Cancer College of Australasia in 2015. He has been working in Skin Cancer Medicine for 11 years.

“This is why I love what I do… saving lives and diagnosing melanomas early is the key. I’ve diagnosed hundreds and hundreds of melanomas, and I sleep better knowing my patients are safe. Last year in 2020, I had a 6 week period where I diagnosed 20 melanomas,” says Dr Greg Cusick.

Outside of medicine, Greg enjoys all sports including running, touch footy, tennis and golf.

BOOK A SKIN CHECK WITH DR GREG CUSICK FOR APPOINTMENTS, GO ONLINE AT WWW.NBSCC.COM.AU OR CALL (02) 9999 0336