Visiting the doctor
When you notice any skin changes your local GP surgery should be your first port of call. Your doctor will be able to either reassure you that the problem is not serious or refer you to a specialist for tests.
Most changes are not caused by cancer but do need to be checked out by a doctor. If skin cancer is caught early, then the treatment is quick and effective.
If your doctor has any concerns, you will be referred to a hospital specialist.
National experts produce guidelines to help GPs decide which patients need to be seen urgently by a specialist. You can read more guidelines for melanoma referral and non-melanoma skin cancer referral on CancerHelp UK.
Some people find that their mind goes blank when they visit the doctor. So you may find it helpful to write a few things down beforehand as a reminder. Note down:
- where the skin changes are on your body
- why you are worried about them
- how your skin has changed and when you noticed
If it helps you could print off our detecting skin cancer page to take with you.
Cancer Help UK has much more information about skin cancer and the questions you might want to ask your doctor about:
It is always a good idea to be registered with a local doctor. When you move to a new area you will need to find a new GP surgery. You can do this by searching online or calling a helpline. Here are some useful contact details:
NHS Direct - for local GP surgeries in England Call: 0845 46 47 or visit the NHS Direct website
NHS Scotland - for local GP surgeries in Scotland Call: 0800 22 44 88 or visit the NHS Scotland website
NHS Direct Wales - for local GP surgeries in Wales Call: 0845 46 47 or visit the NHS Direct Wales website
Central Services Agency - for local services in Northern Ireland visit the Central Services Agency's website
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