do they exist in Taiwan?
I’m not sure if you can find a separate clinic. I’ve found dermatologists though.
Try to be certain it is cancer before getting the Mole or Lump removed(I’m assuming). I had a non-malignant surface mole removed and the pain I went through when the anaesthetic wore off just wasn’t worth it
My understanding is they need to at least take a sample to determine if it is skin cancer
There’s the big private cancer hospital out near the Zhongyi MRT station. Very modern facilites, spotlessly clean and excellent treatment. There are actual individual waiting rooms for patients while they wait for the doctor.
Thx MM - but do they speacilaise in skin cancer. The only reason I ask is that when I was in Germany I couldnt get skin cancer checks - the doctors had very little idea to treat/diagnose. This is all relative of course as I come from Australia - the skin cancer capital of the world.
I come from New Zealand. I’ve never seen an actual skin cancer clinic other than in Australia(NZ doesn’t have them to my knowledge). The Taiwanese really don’t spend a lot of the time in the sun so I doubt there are a lot of cases here.
I’ve had an unneccessary skin graft here and I say keep an eye on the mole/lump and don’t do anything unless it grows. I had a Basal Cell Cancer removed at home rather than here.
I don’t believe there are specific skincancer clinics in Taiwan.
My grandmother gets her moles checked by a dermatologist in one of the big hospitals in Taipei.
I think that even a general practitioner/physician should be able to check them for you (because they are trained to do so)
AWOL, they don’t specialize in skin cancer but cancer in general; ie, it is a cancer hospital. I would check it out if only because they would surely have knowledge of a skin cancer clinic were one to exist.
I had a mole removed a few weeks ago and I’ll have one removed in a couple of weeks.
The first one was benign and I’m not that concerned with the other one although I’m getting it removed because of the size and shape.
The operation took 15 minutes and wasn’t painful.
The only discomfort (which was slight) was the pulling from the stitching, but it wasn’t painful.
The cost without insurance cost me 3000NT (don’t know the cost with insurance). The mole is looked at and your results come in when you return to have your stitches removed 10 days after the operation.
The hospital was Wang Fang (Mucha line).
And I asked the doctor if many foreigners come in and have moles removed…he said many.
i may have to look into this. nice to prevent it before it starts.
you probably all use sunscreen? if you’re not using one with mexoryl, start. It’s by far the most effective UVA protectant, available through many L’Oreal brands. Approved I think everywhere in the world except the US.
Has anyone had a good experience with mole inspection and cancer checks recently? I had a very bad one at Wanfang hospital, where the doctor didn’t even check my back when I asked her, and I have a couple of moles that need checking.
Thanks for any help!
[quote=“asiababy”]Has anyone had a good experience with mole inspection and cancer checks recently? I had a very bad one at Wanfang hospital, where the doctor didn’t even check my back when I asked her, and I have a couple of moles that need checking.
Thanks for any help![/quote]
hi asiababy… after all my dramas i went back to australia for my ‘proper’ checks. the best advice i got however was from an expat diplomat fried who recommedned a skin specialist that the oz office staff use. i went and saw him and thought he was great BUT after coming back home and gettig a proper thorough check he was pretty hopeless in hindsight.
are you planning a trip back to your home country anytime soon? i would argue you may have more luck going to HK as i hear there are clinics there.
AWOL,
Thanks for that information. I do know of a good clinic at home but was hoping for something good here so I can get seen to before February. Guess I will just have to wait and hope it’s not some fast-growing cancer.
I think Taiwanese should get checked for Rickets instead of moles.
hmm, maybe they do.
I always go to Yangming hostpital. I guess they are about as clueless as anyone. I went there a few months ago and saw the dermatologist. They said I had ringworm and game me some salve. When that didn’t work, I went back. The doctor pushed on it and it turned white so he said it’s benign, which is nice to know. Then he gave me some salve. When that didn’t work, I went back yesterday and they did cryo-therapy on it. It hurt, but I didn’t cry-oh. He said it will turn black and fall off in a couple of weeks. Then he gave me some salve.
And it didn’t work, so I went back Friday and they said we need to cryo it again two or three times. For cryo out loud!
I happen to be translating a documentary on cancer in Taiwan. It seems pretty clear that National Taiwan University Hospital is the leading center for cancer treatment in Taiwan. Here’s the brochure. ntuh.mc.ntu.edu.tw/Opd/timetable/ONC.pdf
They have a special subclinic for breast cancer although it looks to me like you first go see one of the general internal oncologists (neike) and then get a referal to one of the breast cancer specialists. PM me if you need help trying to set up an appoinment. NTU can be a bit hectic because it draws patients from all over the island due to its reputation.
Finding a skin cancer specialist seems to be surprisingly difficult although I’m sure NTU can refer you.
Here’s the only one I could find (in Hsinchi Co., Jhubei)
醫師大名 董筱玲 醫院名稱 新竹縣 竹北市 東元綜合醫院
Dr. Dong Xiao-ling, Ton Yen (TECO) General Hospital
(03)552-7000
新竹縣竹北市縣政二路 69 號
No. 69 Xianzheng No. 2 Rd. Jhubei City
She apparently takes appointments on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings.
Looks like a short taxi ride from the Hsinchu HSR station on this map.
“Wait 6 months to see”? That’s sheer craziness. Someone I know was told the same crazy thing (same doctor as yours, perhaps?) here in Taiwan. 6 months later it turned out to be breast cancer (Stage Zero). She had a mastectomy, and because of the effects of the hormone treatment she later had to have a hysterectomy.
I agree with your advice. Don’t wait.
So, anything new to report? Has anyone come across a doctor (in Taipei) who can do a decent skin cancer screening?
I don’t have any specific moles that I’m worried about, but I’m not an expert, and I’m pretty much guaranteed to get skin cancer eventually, so I try to get checked every year or so…
If went to a dermatology clinic, what would I ask for if I wanted the doctor to have a look at all my moles, and advise me from there? A mole screening test? What might that sort of procedure be like?
Any info would be appreciated 