Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is an increasingly common problem in the UK and it is the commonest of all cancer types.
Probably the best known form of skin cancer is Malignant Melanoma because it receives a lot of media attention and in some patients can be life threatening. It is a cancer of pigmented skin cells called melanocytes and will often arise in pigmented moles.
Other forms of skin cancer which are collectively known as Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) are in fact much commoner than Malignant Melanoma. The commenest form of NMSC is called Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is another from of NMSC which forms part of a spectrum of cancerous change of normal skin cells called keratinocytes. This spectrum runs from Actinic Keratosis (a superficial pre-malignant skin change) through Bowen's Disease (a superficial non-invasive skin cancer) to Squamous Cell Carcinoma (an invasive skin cancer).
At Shropshire Skin Clinic Dr Murdoch commonly deals with all forms of skin cancer. Treatments are based upon current best practice and National Guidelines. Within NHS services, patients with more serious or complicated types of skin cancer are discussed at the local skin cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. This meeting is attended by local dermatologists, surgeons, pathologists and oncologists. In order that Dr Murdoch's private patient's are offered this same opportunity, he is a member of the local skin cancer multidisciplinary team and attends these meetings regularly. Before resigning from NHS practice in 2005 he was the Lead Clinician for skin cancer in Shropshire.
Probably the best known form of skin cancer is Malignant Melanoma because it receives a lot of media attention and in some patients can be life threatening. It is a cancer of pigmented skin cells called melanocytes and will often arise in pigmented moles.
Other forms of skin cancer which are collectively known as Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) are in fact much commoner than Malignant Melanoma. The commenest form of NMSC is called Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is another from of NMSC which forms part of a spectrum of cancerous change of normal skin cells called keratinocytes. This spectrum runs from Actinic Keratosis (a superficial pre-malignant skin change) through Bowen's Disease (a superficial non-invasive skin cancer) to Squamous Cell Carcinoma (an invasive skin cancer).
At Shropshire Skin Clinic Dr Murdoch commonly deals with all forms of skin cancer. Treatments are based upon current best practice and National Guidelines. Within NHS services, patients with more serious or complicated types of skin cancer are discussed at the local skin cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. This meeting is attended by local dermatologists, surgeons, pathologists and oncologists. In order that Dr Murdoch's private patient's are offered this same opportunity, he is a member of the local skin cancer multidisciplinary team and attends these meetings regularly. Before resigning from NHS practice in 2005 he was the Lead Clinician for skin cancer in Shropshire.