High-Risk / Recall Program
High-Risk Skin Cancer & Recall Program
Some people are more likely to develop skin cancer than others. For these patients, one-off skin checks aren’t always enough. At BayMed Medical Centre & Skin Cancer Clinic in Cheltenham, our High-Risk / Recall Program is designed to help higher-risk patients stay on top of regular skin cancer checks with planned review intervals and reminder systems.
We support high-risk skin cancer patients from Cheltenham, Mentone, Highett, Moorabbin, Hampton, Sandringham, Beaumaris and across the wider Bayside and south-east Melbourne areas, as well as people who travel from other parts of Victoria for ongoing skin surveillance at our Cheltenham clinic.
What Is the High-Risk / Recall Program?
The High-Risk / Recall Program is a structured follow-up systema for patients who need more frequent or consistent skin checks.
It helps to:
- Set an agreed review schedule (for example, every 6 or 12 months)
- Record which areas or lesions need closer monitoring
- Send reminders when it’s time to book your next skin cancer check
- Keep your skin history and images in one place for future comparison
The goal is simple: make it easier to keep regular skin checks on your calendar so problems can be found and treated earlier.
Who Might Be Considered High-Risk?
Your BayMed doctor may discuss the program if you have one or more of the following:
- A personal history of melanoma or multiple non-melanoma skin cancers
- A strong family history of melanoma or other skin cancers
- Many or atypical moles, especially if they are hard to keep track of yourself
- Fair skin that burns easily, with a history of significant sunburns or sun exposure
- Previous use of solariums or similar high-UV exposure
- A medical condition or medication that affects your immune system
Being high-risk doesn’t mean you will definitely develop more skin cancers—but it does mean regular, well-timed skin checks are especially important.
How the Recall System Works
If you and your doctor agree that you’re high-risk, the recall plan usually includes:
- Setting Your Review Interval
Based on your history, current findings and risk factors, your doctor recommends how often you should return—for example every 6, 12 or 24 months. - Documenting Key Information
We record important details such as previous skin cancers, biopsy sites, areas of concern and any imaging (digital dermoscopy, mole mapping or total body photography). - Adding You to the Recall List
You are added to our recall system so that when your next check is due, we can send a reminder to prompt you to book. - Updating the Plan Over Time
After each skin check, your doctor can adjust your recall interval if needed—shortening it after a new cancer, or sometimes spacing it out if things remain stable.
The recall system doesn’t make bookings automatically, but it gives you a nudge at the right time so skin checks don’t slip too far down the to-do list.
What Happens at a High-Risk Review?
A high-risk review is similar to a thorough skin cancer check, often with extra attention to long-term tracking:
- History and changes since your last visit – new lesions, changing moles, previous treatment sites.
- Full skin examination – from scalp to soles where possible, unless a more focused visit is agreed.
- Use of tools – such as digital dermoscopy, mole mapping and total body photography, where appropriate for your risk level.
- Checking old sites – previous excision or biopsy scars, and any lesions flagged for monitoring last time.
- Plan update – confirming the interval until your next review and whether any newly identified lesions need biopsy, excision or non-surgical treatment.
Over time, this builds a clear picture of your skin and how it changes, rather than treating each visit as a one-off.
Why a Structured Recall Matters for High-Risk Patients
For higher-risk patients, a structured recall program can:
- Reduce the chance of long gaps between checks
- Help pick up new cancers earlier, when treatments are usually simpler
- Use comparisons over time (photos and dermoscopy) to spot subtle changes
- Provide more confidence that your skin is being systematically monitored, not just checked when something looks obviously wrong
It doesn’t remove the need for self-checks, but it does help put a safety net around your regular professional reviews.
Your Role Between Skin Checks
Even in a recall program, your everyday habits still matter. Your doctor will usually encourage you to:
- Perform regular self-checks and ask a partner to help with hard-to-see areas
- Watch for new or changing moles, spots that itch, bleed, crust or don’t heal
- Practise sun protection—broad-brim hats, clothing, shade and broad-spectrum sunscreen
- Book a spot / single lesion check if something changes between routine visits
If you’re ever unsure whether to wait for your next booked check or come in sooner, we encourage you to ask—especially if a lesion is changing quickly or worrying you.
Adjusting Your Recall Over Time
Your recall interval is not fixed forever. It can be:
- Shortened if you develop new or higher-risk skin cancers
- Kept the same if your risk remains steady and checks are finding what they need to at the right time
- Occasionally lengthened if your situation allows and your doctor is comfortable with a slightly longer gap
Any changes are made in conversation with you, based on your results, personal risk and comfort level.
Joining the High-Risk / Recall Program in Cheltenham
If you know you’re at higher risk of skin cancer—or you’ve had one or more skin cancers in the past—it can help to move from ad-hoc visits to a more organised follow-up plan.
You can book a Skin Cancer Clinic appointment at BayMed Medical Centre & Skin Cancer Clinic in Cheltenham and ask your doctor whether the High-Risk / Recall Program is suitable for you.
Bookings can be made online or by calling our reception team. During your visit, we’ll review your history, perform a skin check and, if appropriate, set up a recall schedule so your future skin cancer checks are planned—not left to chance.
