Skin Cancer
Associate Professor Sydney Ch’ng is highly experienced at treating skin cancers, with a special interest in facial skin cancers, rarer skin cancers and melanoma.
As Chair of the Education Committees at Melanoma Institute Australia and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr Ch’ng also helps to upskill other clinicians and nurses in the management of skin cancer, as well as educates the public on the importance of prevention and early detection.
About
The outer layer of skin – called the epidermis – contains three main types of skin cells: squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. Skin cancers form when these cells grow in an abnormal and uncontrolled way.
Skin cancer arising from squamous cells is called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) skin cancer arising from basal cells is called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and skin cancer arising from melanocytes is called melanoma.
SCCs and BCCs are often grouped together under the banner of ‘non-melanoma skin cancers’ or ‘keratinocyte carcinomas. They are the most common cancers in Australia and are typically not life-threatening.
Melanoma can be more serious, although patient outcomes are good when a melanoma is found and treated early.
Get in touch
If you’d like to know more about our head and neck, plastic or skin cancer surgical services, or if you have a question for Dr Ch’ng, we’d love to hear from you.
