The most common form of cancer is skin cancer. A dermatologist can perform a skin cancer check. At the Roosevelt clinic we have expert in the diagnosis and further treatment of skin cancer. In the Netherland, it is possible to get a screening with a referral from your general practitioner, which is insured. It is also possible without a referral.
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Screening for skin cancer is important to determine what type of skin cancer the dermatologist are dealing with. The types of skin cancer variates a lot. The most well-known types are: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The basal cell carcinoma can be somewhat translucent to having a fleshy hue, sometimes ulceration and small blood vessels on the outside. Squamous cell carcinoma appears as a crusted, red and even scaly bump or patch. The tumor grows very fast. Melanoma is a colored area that is asymmetrical, has an irregular boundary, variates in color and is also bigger than a diameter of 5 mm. These three types of skin cancer are primarily caused by UV-light. The risks for the manifestation of these skin cancers are caused by: vacations with large amounts of sunlight, using tanning bed and doing a lot of work and exercise outdoors in the sun. Melanoma can also run in the bloodline, so make sure you tell the dermatologist about any family members who have had an experience with melanoma.
What type of treatment you may need depends on the type of cancer Check this link for more information in Dutch. Sometimes after screening for skin cancer a skin cream is used for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. An excision is however needed for most of the cases of basal cell carcinoma. A huge advantage of a complete removal is that a pathologist can see under a microscope if the lesion is completely gone. After removal of a melanoma the dermato-surgeons will perform an extra removal under the scar. That is in line with the standard procedure of the treatment of melanoma in the Netherlands. At the Roosevelt clinic we have highly trained and experienced surgeons. When needed you can be referred to an academic center for further examination, but those cases are rare.
Screening for skin cancer is covered by your health care insurance with a referral from a general practitioner. Without a referral you have to pay the costs of a full body skin cancer check yourself. You can find the costs here. You will be notified once the dermatologist suspects any kind of suspicious lesion. After removal of the lesion it can be sent to a pathologist for further examination. This will include extra costs. This link will show you the full pricelist here or you can ask your dermatologist for the prices and advise. When a lesion is suspected you should get a referral from a general practitioner.
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