When someone has noticed a suspicious lesion this can be checked, using a dermatoscope (a magnifying device for checking the features just below the surface of the skin). If necessary the lesion can be excised or sampled under local anaesthetic. All specimens are sent to the laboratory to be checked by a pathologist.

Most skin cancers can be excised here at Anwyl Specialist Medical Centre. There is a small operating theatre for this purpose.

Some people are at high risk of skin cancer because either

• they have 100's of moles
• they have multiple family members with melanoma
• they have a previous history of melanoma or multiple keratinocytic skin cancers
• they take immunosupressing medication eg after an organ transplant

and in these circumstances we encourage regular skin checks. Such patients can be put on an annual recall list for skin checks. We can also do total body photography of moles - whereby the patient is re-photographed annually and their photos are compared side by side on the computer to determine whether or not a mole is changing over time, or a new lesion has developed.

In addition, advice is given regarding self checks and sun protection.