Skin Cancer Clinic Near Narellan, NSW

Sun Smile Clinic is a dedicated skin cancer clinic at Leppington Village, approximately 16 minutes from Narellan via Camden Valley Way. Skin cancer is not one service among many here — it is the entire practice, from the first skin check through to biopsy, surgery and follow-up.

We see patients from Narellan and across the Macarthur region, including Narellan Vale, Currans Hill, Harrington Park, Smeaton Grange, Mount Annan, Elderslie, Spring Farm and Camden.

What Actually Happens at a Skin Check

Most people who have never had a skin check are not staying away because they think they are fine. They stay away because nobody has told them plainly what it involves. So here is exactly what happens.

Do I have to undress?

For a full skin check, you undress to your underwear and a gown is provided. Skin cancer does not restrict itself to the areas a t-shirt leaves uncovered, so an examination that only looks at your face and forearms is not a full check. Your doctor examines one region at a time and you stay covered elsewhere throughout. If you would prefer a chaperone in the room, ask reception when you arrive — it is an ordinary request and no explanation is needed.

If the thought of a full examination is what has been stopping you, a spot check is a shorter appointment looking at one specific lesion you are worried about. It is less thorough, but far better than not coming at all.

Does it hurt?

The examination itself is completely painless. Your doctor uses a dermatoscope — a handheld magnifier with polarised light that rests lightly against the skin and reveals structures below the surface that the naked eye cannot see. Nothing is cut, scraped or injected during a standard check.

If a lesion needs a biopsy, the area is numbed with local anaesthetic first. You feel a brief sting as the anaesthetic goes in, much like a blood test, and then nothing at all. Most people are surprised by how minor it is.

How long does it take?

A full skin check runs about 20 to 30 minutes. A spot check is shorter. If a biopsy is needed it can usually be done in the same appointment rather than bringing you back another day, which adds perhaps fifteen minutes.

What happens if they find something?

Most of the time, nothing. The majority of spots examined turn out to be harmless, and you leave knowing that rather than wondering.

If something does need investigating, it is either photographed and measured so it can be tracked over time, or biopsied and sent to pathology. Results usually take around a week. If treatment is required it happens here — lesion removal, excision, pathology and follow-up are handled in the one clinic rather than through a chain of referrals.

It is worth saying plainly: finding something early is the good outcome. According to the Cancer Council, approximately two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70, and the large majority are straightforward to treat when caught early. Even melanoma, the most serious form, is usually very treatable when found before it has grown deep.

The Real Reasons People Put It Off

Narellan is a busy commercial centre, and most of our patients from there are working, running errands and fitting appointments around everything else. The reasons a skin check gets postponed are rarely medical ones.

• “I don’t have time.” Half an hour, once a year. Appointments run Monday to Friday, and there is free parking directly at the centre — no hunting for a space, no meter to feed.
• “It’ll be expensive.” Standard skin cancer check consultations are bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders. If anything further is recommended, the cost is explained before it goes ahead.
• “I need a referral first.” You don’t. Book directly, without seeing your GP first.
• “I’m embarrassed.” Your doctor examines skin every working day and has seen everything there is to see. A chaperone is available on request.
• “I’d rather not know.” Understandable — and the most expensive of the five. Skin cancer found early is usually a minor procedure. The same cancer found two years later is a much bigger one.

Getting to Sun Smile Clinic from Narellan

Sun Smile Clinic is at Leppington Village Shopping Centre, C1.3C, Level 1/108 Ingleburn Road, Leppington NSW 2179 — approximately 16 minutes from Narellan, straight up Camden Valley Way.

There is free open parking at the centre with no meter and no time limit, so a longer appointment or a same-day procedure does not leave you watching the clock. Leppington Station is a short walk from the shopping centre if you prefer to travel by train.

Why Narellan Patients Choose Sun Smile Clinic

• A dedicated skin cancer clinic. Every consultation, instrument and protocol here exists for detecting and treating skin cancer, rather than being fitted around general practice.
• Dr Shawkat Islam, Skin Cancer Physician and Medical Director, with more than 23 years in skin cancer medicine, advanced dermoscopy and skin cancer surgery.
• Everything under one roof. Skin check, dermoscopy, biopsy, pathology, excision and follow-up all at Leppington — no referral chain, and no repeating your history to a new doctor at every step.
• Documented baselines. Anything unusual is photographed and measured, so your next visit compares against a record rather than someone’s memory.
• Bulk billing with costs explained upfront. Standard skin cancer check consultations are bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders, and anything beyond that is quoted before it proceeds.

We also serve neighbouring Camden, Mount Annan and Gregory Hills.

Common Questions from Narellan Patients

Is there a skin cancer clinic in Narellan?

There is no dedicated skin cancer clinic in Narellan itself. Sun Smile Clinic at Leppington Village is the closest, approximately 16 minutes away via Camden Valley Way, and skin cancer is its sole clinical focus rather than one service among many.

Do I have to get undressed for a skin check?

For a full skin check you undress to your underwear and a gown is provided. Your doctor examines one area at a time and you remain covered elsewhere. A chaperone is available on request — just ask reception when you arrive. If you would prefer something shorter, a spot check focused on a single lesion is an alternative.

Does a skin check hurt?

No. The examination uses a dermatoscope resting lightly on the skin and is completely painless. If a biopsy is needed, the area is numbed with local anaesthetic first, so you feel only a brief sting as it goes in.

How long does a skin check take?

A full skin check takes about 20 to 30 minutes. If a lesion needs a biopsy, that can usually be done at the same appointment.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed. Book directly online or call (02) 7200 8040.

Is bulk billing available for Narellan patients?

Standard skin cancer check consultations are bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders. If a procedure such as a biopsy or excision is recommended, the cost is explained clearly before you agree to it.

Led by Dr Shawkat Islam

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