SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre

15/10/2025

How to stay skin safe this summer

The sun protection season is in full swing again. Many of people have had sunburn before and do our best to avoid it. But is stopping burns enough? How do we keep safe from melanoma and skin cancer?

First, think about sun damage.

Sunburn is acutely damaging to the skin. Most people understand this and take measures to avoid it.

Long-term sun exposure isn’t immediately visible. It adds up over time and is often forgotten. It is a real issue in Queensland with year-round sunshine and even more so in summer.

Once the problem is understood, think about how to prevent skin cancer or detect it early if it happens. Here are some top tips:

1. Have good sun protection habits whenever the UV is over 3. Follow the Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide advice - even for shorter exposures.

2. Check your skin every 2-3 months for anything Sore, Changing, Adnormal, or New and not going away in 5-6 weeks. Get it checked.

3. Get a regular skin check if you: are over 40 years old with fair or olive skin, have many moles, previous skin cancer, a close family history of skin cancer or high sun exposure history (especially with severe or many sunburns).

SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre is dedicated to the prevention, early detection, and treatment of melanoma and skin cancer.

The doctors practising at SunLife have advanced skin cancer training and provide all aspects of care including detailed skin checks, surgical treatment, non-surgical treatment, and advanced 3D digital imaging.

Book a skin check at SunLife online or call for 3D Total Body Photography. No referral is needed.

As published in Issue 879 of

27/09/2025

We're at the Sunshine Coast Expo this weekend 🙌 It's a beautiful sunny day and lots of talk of sun protection and skin cancer. See you there 👍

27/09/2025

Day 2 at the Sunshine Coast Expo 🙌

24/09/2025

✅Locally owned ✅Modern facilities
✅Wises Road, Buderim/Maroochydore
✅Full skin cancer treatment services

You can use our HealthEngine booking form to book your next appointment with one of the doctors at SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre.

23/09/2025

3 day countdown! Looking forward to another exhibit at Sunshine Coast Expo this Friday to Sunday. See you there 🙌

23/09/2025

A most refined approach to sun safety. 💅

When basking in the splendour of the sun, one must do so with both elegance and discernment. In the realm of sun protection, one must never sacrifice grace for safety.

Do take care when venturing outdoors and remember to slip, slop, slap seek and slide. ☀️

A touch of forethought, a dash of decorum, and one is perfectly prepared for the sun’s embrace.

23/09/2025

Non-surgical treatment available for BCC skin cancer

BCCs are the most common type of skin cancer, and Queensland has the highest rates in the world.

Nodular BCCs are mostly cut out.

But what happens when they are on visible or tight areas like the face or sternum?

Thankfully, there is a safe alternative to excision called photodynamic therapy (PDT).

PDT is a medicated cream and light treatment with no need for scalpels, radiation or chemotherapy.

It has been proven with over 20 years of use in practice.

This safe, non-surgical treatment needs to be administered by a trained nurse following a proven PDT protocol.

It can only be used for superficial or nodular BCCs less than 2mm deep.

While the cure rates are lower than with excision, many people like to have the choice.

That’s why my colleagues at SunLife and I offer assessment for excision or PDT.

SunLife has trained PDT nurses and a dedicated PDT room.

If it is decided excision is the best approach, we can perform most procedures on-site without need for referral.

As published in Issue 877 My Weekly Preview

23/09/2025

Prepare your skin to welcome the Coast's sunshine

With the recent warm weather, it seems we’ve skipped spring and jumped into summer.

The beaches are busy, people are out, and the Sunny Coast is living up to its name.

Many of us are happy for the change, but are we ready for the sunshine?

Sun exposure is an easily forgotten problem this time of year.

For much of the day, there’s enough UV to harm skin, but not enough to burn. In the middle of the day many of us can burn before we realise.

So, it's time to start paying attention to sun protection. Minimise exposure in peak UV hours, wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen to reduce skin damage and skin cancer risk.

Most Australians over the age of 40 have had significant sun exposure, especially in Queensland where the UV is over 3 all year round.

Finding skin cancer early is important to avoid significant harm.

Check your skin regularly for any new or changing spots that don’t go away.

To help find skin cancers as early as possible, people at risk should get a full skin check with an experienced skin cancer doctor at least once a year.

Doctors trained in the use of a dermatoscope can recognise patterns and clues to skin cancer that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The doctors at SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre perform these examinations every day and have a wealth of experience in diagnosing and managing skin cancer.

SunLife is dedicated to preventing, finding and treating skin cancers, and is locally owned and operated on the Sunshine Coast.

As well as routine skin checks, SunLife provides surgical, non-surgical, and pre-cancer treatments in the high-quality facilities. For those at risk of melanoma, the centre offers advanced 3D digital imaging.

No referral needed. Book online or by phone.

As published in Issue 875 My Weekly Preview

23/09/2025

Understanding squamous cell carcinoma better

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the second most common skin cancer in Australia after basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

As always, Queensland sees well above the national average.

Typically, SCCs grow in sun exposed skin. They can come out of nowhere or from existing pre-cancerous sun-spots, called Actinic Keratosis (AKs).

Whilst many SCCs grow slowly, it is common for them to grow quickly as a tender lump on the skin.

Some SCCs are aggressive. They can spread under the skin to lymph nodes and around the body.

Your risk of getting SCCs can be reduced by following good sun protection and treating any skin that has lots of AKs.

When SCCs occur, it is best to find them early and get them excised (cut out).

At SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre, patients can receive a thorough skin check with risk assessment with an experienced skin cancer doctor.

Treatment options can be provided for AKs that are supported by our trained nursing staff.

Most SCCs and skin cancers needing excision can be done on-site with no referral needed.

As published in Issue 873 My Weekly Preview

23/09/2025

Celebrating One Year with Our Dedicated Doctors

This month marks a special milestone at SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre as it celebrates one year with Dr Nadia Messerschmidt and Dr Daud Yunus.

Practice Manager Joyce says during the past 12 months, their expertise, care, and commitment has made a tremendous difference to patients and the clinic.

"From their first days, both doctors quickly became trusted members of our team," she says.

"They’ve brought exceptional clinical skill in skin cancer detection and treatment, along with a genuine compassion that puts patients at ease.

"Whether providing detailed skin checks, explaining treatment options, performing skin excisions, or guiding patients through care plans, their approach has been both professional and reassuring.

"Their contributions extend beyond the consultation room. They’ve shared knowledge with our nurses, contributed to team discussions, and helped strengthen our patient care processes."

Joyce says as part of their commitment to continual professional development, Dr Nadia and Dr Daud are preparing to travel to America for a five-day course on anatomy and skin surgery.

"This cutting-edge course at the UC San Diego School of Medicine is highly regarded. It involves hands on training with leading specialists in Plastic Surgery, Skin Cancer Dermatology, and Anatomy-Clinical Pathology.

"Making this effort to further improve their skills is incredibly valuable for patients, and it supports SunLife’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality skin cancer care to our Sunshine Coast community.

"As we celebrate this first year together, we want to thank Dr Nadia and Dr Daud for their dedication and the positive impact they’ve made.

"We also recognise the contributions of our entire medical team, whose ongoing commitment ensures our patients receive exceptional care."

As published in Issue 871 My Weekly Preview

23/09/2025

How to find melanoma early and stay safe

Finding melanoma early saves lives, but it can be easier said than done because melanoma isn’t always easy to see. We estimate that a third are found just because they are new or changing.

So, what can you do to help catch melanoma early?

At SunLife, we like to think of three lines of defence:

1. Check your own skin (front and back) for anything Sore, Changing, Abnormal, or New that doesn't settle in 6 weeks. Call us if you find anything worrying.

2. Get a skin check with one of our experienced skin cancer doctors. This is especially important if you have had previous skin cancer, a family history, previous high sun exposure, or fair skin that burns easily.

3. Consider 3D Total Body Photography if you have many moles, a personal or family history of melanoma, or large moles in areas that are hard for you to see. This detailed imaging allows us to see and assess change.

SunLife is locally owned and dedicated to skin cancer care.

As published in Issue 868 My Weekly Preview

15/06/2025

Book your skin check today with Dr Daud Yunus
✅ Caring and experienced skin cancer doctor
✅ Over 15yrs experience sub-specialising in skin cancer
✅ Currently completing his Masters in Skin Cancer Medicine at University of Queensland
✅ Skin check appointments with Dr Daud are available now
✅ No referral is needed
Book online sunlifeskincancercare.com.au/bookings or call 0754509808

You can use our HealthEngine booking form to book your next appointment with one of the doctors at SunLife Skin Cancer Care Centre.