Patients are referred into our skin cancer service if they have a skin lesion their GP is concerned about. Examples of concerning lesions include unusual moles, lumps or non-healing scabs. Once referred to the skin cancer service, patients should be seen within 2 weeks.

Initially, patients will be seen in the fast track clinic where the lesion of concern will be examined. If a skin cancer is suspected at this stage, a biopsy will be taken, usually on the same day. This involves cutting out some or all of the lesion under local anaesthetic and sending it for testing. Not every patient requires a biopsy. Some patients may have lesions which can be treated with a cream or lesions which don’t require any treatment at all. These patients will be discharged from the service at this point. Please click on the link below to take you to a series of videos explaining the fast track process in more detail.

Fast track skin check clinic | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk)

Once a biopsy has been taken, the sample will be sent to the histopathology lab where it will be processed and examined and a results report written. We always communicate the results to the patient, regardless of what they are. If the results are inconclusive or show a skin cancer, another appointment will be offered.

Most skin cancers are treated with surgical removal of the cancer. For some high risk cancers, treatments such as radiotherapy and immunotherapy may be offered as well as surgery.

If the biopsy results show a skin cancer, an appointment will be offered in in our joint dermatology and plastic surgery clinic. At this appointment, several things may be discussed. If the skin cancer was adequately removed during the initial biopsy, the results will be given but no further treatment will be required. Sometimes, if the cancer was not fully removed or only just removed, further surgery will be needed. The further surgery will be planned at this appointment and will take place at Bradford Royal Infirmary or Eccleshill Treatment Centre. Some patients with high risk or unusual lesions may be referred on to the regional specialist skin cancer centre in Leeds for further investigations and treatments. The benefits and reasons for referring a patient will be discussed at their clinic appointment prior to the referral being sent.

Once the skin cancer has been fully treated, patients will be followed up in clinic. The length of this follow up depends on the type of skin cancer and how high risk it was. Follow up can range from one appointment to multiple appointments over 5 years. At these follow up appointments, the site of the skin cancer will be examined, as well as the rest of the skin and the lymph nodes. This means if the cancer were to return, to spread or if a new cancer were to develop, it would be picked up as early as possible to allow for prompt treatment. Advice is also given to patients on how to protect their skin and how to perform self-checks to identify any problems in between appointments. For some patients with higher risk cancers, follow up scans may be organised to check for any return or spread of the cancer.

Once the follow up period is over, patients will be discharged from the skin cancer service and advised to contact their GP if they have any new concerns regarding their skin.