Skin cancer

Royal Free Hospital’s expert dermatologists have a wealth of experience in detecting and treating skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Signs and symptoms

Skin cancer rates are on the rise – and it is our job to help ensure any early warning signs are detected as soon as possible. We understand that being diagnosed with any form of cancer can be very frightening, and will do our best to help support you through the process. Most of the time, skin cancer is very easy to treat – but early diagnosis can make a big difference, so it’s important to get anything unusual checked by a specialist right away.

Key signs and symptoms to watch out for include moles that are asymmetrical or changing size or shape, contain different colours or an irregular border or have started itching, bleeding or weeping, as well as any unusual scaly or sore patches on your skin that aren’t healing.

If you are concerned about a particular mole or marking, or your skin cancer risk in general, our specialist mole checks and dermoscopies use the latest innovative technologies to enable consultants to examine changes within the skin that are too small or deep to be seen by the naked eye. We can also arrange and perform mole biopsies and lab testing.

The procedure

If skin cancer or pre-cancerous cells are detected, our dermatologists are also highly skilled in treating skin cancer, with a range of surgical procedures available depending on the type, size and location of the disease. Alongside straightforward surgical mole removal, we also offer Mohs micrographic surgery, which minimises tissue loss and scarring.

Removing cancerous moles and lesions is often a straightforward procedure, performed with local anaesthetic on a day case basis, meaning you won’t need to stay overnight in hospital. However, the recovery time, scarring and aftercare will depend on the individual procedure being performed. Your consultant will be able to discuss the details with you beforehand, to ensure you’re fully informed about what to expect.