Growing up in Winton in Queensland's west, Nicolette Jane always wore a hat and sunscreen.
So when the 42-year-old noticed a red, itchy lump on her nose in November, she went to her GP and was shocked to find out it was a basal cell carcinoma skin cancer.
"I was pretty worried, and I had tears when they diagnosed it," Ms Jane said.
"Any sort of cancer makes you panic inside."
Ms Jane had the cancer removed by a specialist within two days.
The Toowoomba mother is one of the thousands of Australians who went to see their GP for skin cancer-related conditions, with a new study today highlighting the huge role doctors played in catching the disease.
The study by The Daffodil Centre — a joint venture between the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW — looked at more than 1.3 million consultations nationally between 2000 and 2016.
Published in the journal, BMJ Open, the study found skin cancers accounted for 3 per cent of all patient visits to a GP.
"When you think about everything that is managed in general practice, it represents a huge number of consultations," lead researcher Professor Anne Cust said.
More detections among some
Professor Cust said the study found skin cancer-related visits were higher for Australians aged 65 to 89, for those living in regional or remote areas, those from a lower socio-economic background, and for Queenslanders.
She said the research also highlighted the pivotal role GPs played in detecting skin cancer.
"It's really important that all GPs are appropriately trained and know how to manage these conditions," Professor Cust said.
She hoped the results would also help authorities to better understand the burden of skin cancer on the health system and how to better prioritise prevention and screening programs.
Rural Doctors Association of Queensland president Dr Matt Masel said the number of patients seeing a GP for skin checks could be far higher than the 3 per cent revealed in the study.
"Most of my consultations involve me looking at least [at] my older patients' faces, and it's not uncommon to identify things when they've come in for other problems or for a check-up," he said.
But with the number of bulk bulling GPs falling across the country, Dr Masel said he was concerned it was getting harder for vulnerable people to access services like skin checks.
"That's where we're at the moment. A standard consultation to see your GP, whether it's for a skin check … the rebate you get for that consultation is less than half what it actually costs to provide it," he said.
"And so that's why we're seeing increasing gaps being charged for patients."
Get checked
Dr Masel hoped the study would be a reminder for people to get their skin checked.
"Watch out for spots that are changing on your skin. If there's any doubts, please book in and see your GP," he said.
"Skin cancer screening, education and prevention advice is part of any adult check-up. Even children are at risk."
For Ms Jane, the shock of having a doctor cut into her face has passed.
"It's healed. I don't even think about it anymore and you can barely see the scar now."
She said it was a good decision to go and see her GP.
"I would say to everyone who lives in Australia, get your skin checked," Ms Jane said.
"It's uncomfortable. And it's not a pleasant experience, but it's worth getting in early and tackling it."
