Today I’m wearing ‘hospital chic’; rather than my usual outfits, I’m in a fetching blue gown at NorthMed Akoranga Drive for a MoleMap. MoleMap.co.nz hosted me to spread the word about checkups to help prevent melanoma. I think you should get checked out too if you have any concerns as this is one case where the old adage ‘an ounce of prevention is worth an pound of cure’ definitely rings true.
I’m a melanoma survivor so I think it’s so important to get our skin checked. They found a melanoma at my last MoleMap appointment, actually, and you can read about that here. Today I got photographed and a report will be emailed to me with photos and any concerns. They found and photographed 3 new moles that had appeared since last time.
What Happens When You Go For A MoleMap
Firstly, you book online or ring them to book 0800 665362. The appointment is scheduled for one hour, and you get reminder emails like this:
Before your appointment it is a good idea to have a look over your own skin, including your scalp and note down anything you would like to ask questions about. TOP TIP: ask your partner to tell you if they see anything different as you often can’t see behind you.
At The MoleMap Appointment
When you arrive you are greeted by your clinical nurse. I had Michelle who has 17 years of experience and you can ask her anything. She said how much she enjoys her job and the wide variety of interesting people she meets. They are extremely professional and you don’t feel at all weird wearing a gown and having photos taken of your skin as they do this everyday and are such pros. You are given a gown and changing area and you wear underwear and no makeup or nail polish so that they can see your skin surface and nail beds.
Full Body MoleMap for New Patients
So, what happens on your first visit? At your first appointment, a baseline record of your skin is created wearing only your underwear. After that, they do individual mapping of each mole, or lesion, using a special camera. They spray the mole, take its photo up close, and mark it with a pen so they know it’s been done.
After the Appointment
Your photos get sent to an expert dermatologist who will review your file and prepare a report. You are given a card with a number on it at the appointment so you can simply log on at home and see them. Hopefully there’s nothing of concern, but the report may include recommendations regarding treatment or monitoring of specific lesions.
Follow Up Over Time
The beauty of this is that they can compare your photos over time to see changes. The Dermatologist will review images to detect very early changes not visible with the naked eye.
Fact sheet from melanoma.org.nz
· New Zealand has the highest per capita rates of invasive melanoma in the world
· The majority of melanomas are preventable
· Melanoma is caused by too much UV radiation either from the sun or artificial sources
· Currently, melanoma is the highest registered cancer in men aged 25-44
· 70% of melanoma cases occur in people aged 50yrs and older
· Over 300 Kiwis die each year from melanoma.
· Death rates are higher among men
· The chance of developing melanoma increases with age
Anyone in New Zealand can get melanoma.
Factors that may contribute to melanoma:
· Skin damage due to sunburn
· Skin type that burns easily
· Sunbed use
· Many moles and larger moles
· A personal or family history of melanoma
· Fair skin
· Red, blonde or fair hair
Megan Robinson
19th April 2018
All photography by Megan Robinson. Disclosure: Check up gifted for review. No payment received, all opinions my own.