EAST GIPPSLAND NEWSPAPERS | 7 EDITION 2 - 2024 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 Skin cancers including melanoma are the most common human malignancy. Early skin cancers and melanoma are easily treated cancers if caught early by proper evaluation, diagnosis and surgical removal. Skin cancer and melanoma are surgical problems and a complete service is offered from detection and skin checks to definitive surgical treatment by Gippsland Skin Cancer and Melanoma Clinic at 8 Pearson Street, Bairnsdale. Service St Medical Centre, a general practice co-located at 8 Pearson Street, may also be able to help and also with a referral. Gippsland Melanoma and Skin Cancer Clinic is a specialist skin cancer and melanoma service run from 8 Pearson Street and also at Fitzpatrick House in Sale by Mr Adrian Aitken, a Specialist General Surgeon MBBS PhD FRACS. For advanced, difficult or complex situations close collaboration and liaison is undertaken with colleagues at Peter MacCallum, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Parkville for access to complex oncology and cancer trials. A referral, either a standard referral or indefinite referral, is required from a general practitioner for access to medicare rebates, so just ask your GP. The majority of procedures are done either in-house under local anaesthetic and take about half an hour or so. More involved procedures requiring a general anaesthetic can be done at Maryvale Private Hospital either through a health fund if insured or self-funded. The worst part of the procedure is the injection lasting only a few seconds, but the rest of the procedure is comfortable and painless. A full explanation of the procedure including clinical and financial consent is done at the initial consultation and a booking made at a suitable time or in some circumstances the procedure can be made on the same day. When sutures are removed at follow-up a pathology report is supplied and explained, and a letter written back to the referring general practitioner including the report. Charges are moderate and appropriate to the complexity of the problem. Quotes are given if requested with the initial consultation although the complex nature of medicare billing including multiple procedures and individual threshold medicare payments make it difficult to give on the spot billing charges. Aftercare is included without additional charges. In all situations great care is taken on minimising the cosmetic impact. The mark of a good surgeon is not to leave a mark and if possible to make any scar as invisible as possible. This is achieved through a combination of planning, knowledge, specialist expertise and good post-operative care. Contact with Gippsland Melanoma and Skin Cancer and Fitzpatrick House is just a phone call away. Wait times are short and urgent referrals may be able to be seen the same day. For referrals and questions please phone Fitzpatrick House and chat to any of the experienced and friendly staff. Early detection Bairnsdale Croquet Club is one of the fastest growing clubs in the state and offers people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy gentle exercise, while playing a strategic game in a social atmosphere. Yes it's a game that provides exercise, stimulates the brain and is fun, and it’s right here in your backyard, being played up to six times (closed Mondays) a week by a membership of more than 80 at a social level. Golf croquet is played in singles and doubles format and is won by a player/s hitting their ball through each hoop. Each player takes a turn at hitting a ball through the same hoop, with the player or team that wins the most hoops declared the winner. For the competitive there's the opportunity to partake in Gippsland Croquet Association pennant competition, where players lock horns with other tactical masterminds. Competitions at local level are often played as handicaps to even up the level of competition, ensuring all players have a chance at victory. The club celebrated its centenary in 2021 and is still going strong, its magnificent grass courts situated at the Bairnsdale Bowls Club complex. The club boasts that some of its members are nearly as old as the club itself, but the sport of golf croquet certainly isn't just an old people's game, with some of the world's best players in their 20s. Croquet has become increasingly popular as it is less wearing on the body than both golf and bowls. Croquet is a relatively cheap sport to get into, with the only real cost being the mallet, which will last a player a lifetime. The club is always keen to attract new members and has two accredited coaches on hand to assist with the finer points of the game. Bairnsdale Croquet Club will be offering a come and try day on Friday, October 18, with a 3pm start, followed by drinks and nibbles. All equipment will be provided, with the only requirement being flat soled shoes. Croquet growing and growing Croquet is one of the fastest growing sports in the state and Bairnsdale Croquet Club is evidence of that with more than 80 members. BAIRNSDALE BOWLS CLUB incorporating Bairnsdale Croquet Club Cnr Grant St & Pearson St, Bairnsdale Phone: 5152 3796 MON - SAT 9.30AM - LATE | SUN 10AM - 8PM TRADING HOURS EN22159 THURSDAY & FRIDAY MEMBERS DRAW & RAFFLES LUNCH: 7 DAYS | 12-2PM | DINNER: 7 DAYS | 6-8PM GET ON THE GREENS BOOKING PREFERRED Come try croquet & bowls M.B.B.S, Ph.D., F.R.A.C.S. SPECIALIST GENERAL SURGEON ‘WHEN EXCELLENCE AND PERSONAL CARE COUNTS’ CARPAL TUNNEL UNDER LOCAL GASTROSCOPY AND COLONOSCOPY GALLSTONE SURGERY BREAST LUMPS BREAST CANCER BOWEL CANCERS HERNIA REPAIRS HYDROCELES KEYHOLE SURGERY LIPOMAS DUPUYREN’S HAND SURGERY TUMMY TUCKS THYROID SURGERY VARICOSE VEINS VASECTOMY MR ADRIAN AITKEN 8 PEARSON ST BAIRNSDALE www.tzpatrickhouse.com.au ASK YOUR GP FOR A REFERRAL PHONE 51 444 555 FOR APPOINTMENTS EN22250
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