Getting diagnosed
If you notice a change in your skin and you’re worried, you shouldn’t delay contacting your GP. Your worry is unlikely to go away if you don’t make an appointment. The symptom might not be due to cancer. But if it is, the earlier you pick cancer up, the easier it is to treat. You won't be wasting your doctors time.
Speak to your GP as soon as possible if you notice an unexplained skin change which:
grows or bleeds
forms a scabs which falls off and grows again
is itchy, crusty, scaly, or painful
does not heal
Your doctor can decide if you need tests or a referral to see a specialist.
It can be difficult to remember everything you want to say and ask when you see the doctor. These tips will help you get the most out of your appointment:
Write down your symptoms including when they started.
Tell your GP if you're worried about cancer in particular.
Tell your GP if you have a family history of cancer or any other medical conditions.
Take a friend or relative along for support - they could also ask questions and help you remember what the GP says.
Ask the GP to explain anything you don’t understand.
Ask the GP to write things down for you if you think this might help.
If you have taken photos of your skin remember to take these along with you.
Your doctor needs to build up a picture of what's going on. So they will ask you some questions. They might ask you:
what symptoms you have
whether you have noticed any other skin changes
about your sun exposure
about your general health and past medical history, and your family history of cancer
During the appointment your doctor will closely examine the abnormal area of skin. They might also check the rest of your skin. You can ask for someone else to be in the room with you if you want, to act as a chaperone. A chaperone is a trained health professional such as a nurse. A friend or relative can also stay with you for support. They can be with you during the examination or throughout the appointment.
Depending on your symptoms, your GP might be able to reassure you. Or they might do some other tests. They might:
take digital photographs of the abnormal area of skin and send them to a teledermatology service
look at the area of skin closely using a dermatoscope which is like a magnifying glass
take a small sample (biopsy) of skin and send it to a laboratory for examination under a microscope
do a skin stretch test which helps to examine the area and see how big it is
Read more about dermatoscopes and other tests to diagnose skin cancer
Teledermatology is where your GP takes digital photographs of the mole or patch of skin. Or you go to a special imaging clinic.
The GP sends the photos to the teledermatology service. A doctor checks your photos. Or in some cases, a computer programme may check them. These checks are to work out if you need to see a skin specialist (dermatologist) urgently or not.
A computer programme which has been taught to check skin photos may be as good as a doctor at deciding who needs more tests. The computer programme is a type of artificial intelligence (AI).
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) decide which tests and treatments are available on the NHS in England. They have agreed that doctors can use this computer programme while NICE collect more information about how it improves people’s care. NICE will then decide if doctors can use it across the NHS in England.
If you are happy for a computer to look at your photos, you sign a consent form to say you agree. A doctor still checks the photos if there is a possibility of a pre cancer or cancer and decides if you need more tests.
There are guidelines for GPs to help them decide who needs a referral to a specialist team. Depending on your symptoms and the results of tests, your GP might refer you to a specialist.
Some GPs have had special training and are able to treat some basal cell skin cancers. So you might not need a referral to see a specialist.
Ask your GP to explain if they don’t think you need a referral or any tests. Go back to the GP if you notice any further changes to the skin.
Find out more about being referred to a skin cancer specialist
I have this patch of skin that I'm worried may be cancer. Can you remove it, or will I have to go to hospital?
Do you often do this type of minor surgery?
Do I need to see a specialist, is it urgent?
When will I see them?
Where will I see them?
Will I find out about my appointments by post or telephone?
Do I need tests? What will they involve?
How long should I expect to wait?
Where can I find out more about tests?
Do I have to do any preparation for this test?
When will I get the results and who will tell me?
Your GP might not be able to answer all of your questions. They will tell you what they can at this point. Not knowing is difficult to cope with and can make you anxious.
Can you explain why I don’t need to have tests or see a specialist?
Do I need to see you again?
Who do I contact if my symptoms continue or get worse?
Make sure you know what happens next. Contact your GP surgery if you are unsure what the next step is. If you do not need any treatment, then find out how often you need to come back to have the area checked by a doctor.
Make another appointment to see your GP if symptoms get worse or you have further skin changes.
If you don’t have a GP, you can find a doctor’s surgery in your local area by going to:
There are different ways you might be able to book an appointment. This depends on your GP surgery. You may be able to:
telephone your GP surgery
book an appointment online through your GP surgery website (if they have one)
complete an online form (this is sometimes called an online consultation)
use the NHS App
go into the GP surgery and make an appointment in person
It may help to see if your GP surgery has a website - this will explain the best way to get an appointment.
Go to the NHS website to find out about the different ways to book a GP appointment
If it's difficult to get through to the GP surgery by phone try calling at a different time of the day. Or try calling on a different day. It could be particularly busy in the mornings or on a Monday. Although it can be frustrating you should keep trying. Some GP surgeries offer to call you back if you are in a telephone queue.
You might be able to go to your GP surgery to book an appointment. But not all surgeries offer this service.
You don’t have to tell the receptionist why you want to see the doctor, although sometimes it might help to explain your situation.
The reception team are trained in offering you an appointment with the most suitable professional at the right time. Depending on your symptoms, you might see another healthcare professional such as a nurse first.
Many GP surgeries ask you to complete an online form. You can find this on their website, or sometimes on the NHS app. You enter information about any symptoms you have. Your GP surgery will look at this information and let you know what happens next.
You may be asked to attend in person, especially if your GP needs to examine you. Or the receptionist may offer you a telephone or video appointment first. If your GP needs to see you after this they will ask you to make another appointment. The receptionist will give you a date and time for this.
Accept a booked appointment even if you think it’s a long time to wait. You could ask about cancellations if you're able to get to the surgery at short notice. Check that the surgery has the right details for you, including your telephone number and email.
Contact the GP surgery again if your symptoms change or get worse.
Last reviewed: 28 Mar 2026
Next review due: 28 Mar 2029
Symptoms of skin cancer can include: a sore that doesn't heal, an area of skin that looks unusual, red, itchy, bleeds or scabs for more than 4 weeks.
The main test to diagnose skin cancer is to take a sample (biopsy) of the area. There are different types of biopsy.
Your GP should arrange for you to see a specialist if you have symptoms that could be due to certain types of non melanoma skin cancer. Some GPs can treat basal cell cancer.
Non melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer and other rare types.
You usually have surgery to treat skin cancer, but you may have other treatments such as chemotherapy cream, radiotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy or photodynamic therapy.
Non melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and other rare types. They tend to develop most often on skin that has been exposed to the sun.
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