Leading the national fight against skin cancer in York

Family doctors in York are leading the national fight against skin cancer thanks to a project supported by us.

Vale of York GPs are using dermatoscopes funded by our charity to take specialised images of suspicious skin conditions and send them to local dermatologists for a swift diagnosis.

Dr Dan Cottingham, a local GP and the Macmillan Cancer Lead for NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Dermatoscopes have helped us to develop a local life-saving project that has already improved waiting times for suspected skin cancer referrals.”

Dr Andy Muinonen-Martin, a consultant dermatologist who is skin cancer lead at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Honorary Consultant Dermatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s melanoma clinic, spearheaded the project. He said: “The system developed in the Vale of York is far ahead of what is on offer for patients in many other areas. We are national pioneers in York and we are way ahead of the curve.”

Electronic photographic referrals to York Hospital via dermatoscopes are helping eliminate and reassure more patients with benign conditions and speed the process for people needing hospital assessment and/or treatment. 

Dr Muinonen-Martin said: “We are very proud of this referral model which we hope to take to other regions and demonstrate how this system really makes a difference.

“Skin cancer is common and we are in the middle of an epidemic. Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and there are high numbers here compared to other countries so we need to use technology and work together as best we can.”

Dr Muinonen-Martin added: “Detecting skin cancers early like this is essential as many are curable at this stage and the surgery required leaves much smaller scars.”

Julie Russell, our general manager, said: “The charity is delighted that it has been able to help make such a significant difference.”