New Darling Downs Melanoma Clinic hosts second screening device in the state

Toowoomba has become the second place in Queensland with access to a groundbreaking melanoma detection device. Here’s how this technology will improve skin cancer detection:

The Darling Downs Melanoma Clinic was officially opened on November 28, supported by philanthropist Clive Berghofer. Picture: Supplied

Toowoomba has opened a new private Melanoma Clinic which has one of only two groundbreaking skin cancer detection devices in Queensland.

The clinic is a joint venture between Dr Damien Fry and Dr Oli Norton, two experienced local doctors and hosts a full body screening device called the Vectra WB360.

Dr Fry said the technology uses 92 high definition cameras to create a full 3D representation of the person and picks up on small lesions and spots on their skin.

“It picks up and identifies lesions of concern almost automatically with the help of AI,” he said.

“With our medical training accompanied with the machine, we can get through a lot more lesions and photograph a lot more lesions in one sitting and have them documented perfectly.”

The clinic has already conducted scans on about 50 patients since opening in mid-November.

The Darling Downs Melanoma Clinic was officially opened on November 28, supported by philanthropist Clive Berghofer. Picture: Supplied

The Vectra WB360 was donated to the University of Queensland by Clive Berghofer, and the Darling Downs Melanoma Clinic is helping supply research to the university through their scans.

There are currently six machines across Queensland but there are only two for public access, including one on the Sunshine Coast and this one in Toowoomba.

Dr Fry said the technology is particularly good for comparing regular scans to see how spots change over time and help detect cancer quicker.

“If you’ve ever had a melanoma, I think a machine like ours is invaluable, and the other thing is if you’ve got family history of melanoma, that is a big problem as well,” he said.

“So with family history of melanoma, someone should always be concerned and always get regular skin checks, I’d recommend yearly.

“If you’ve grown up in Queensland and you’re fair or red haired or have multiple moles on your body, then I think a skin check from the age of 18 onwards is always a good idea.”

The Darling Downs Melanoma Clinic was officially opened on November 28, supported by philanthropist Clive Berghofer. Picture: Supplied

Dr Fry said doctors may recommend skin checks more frequently than annually for people with family history or anyone who had previously had melanoma before.

He said the introduction of this clinic and the Vectra WB360 is really essential to Toowoomba.

“Toowoomba has a large farming population, and a large amount of tradesmen or others with a lot of outdoor work,” he said.

“If you spend time in the sun you will gather UV damage and that’s your highest risk factor.”

Find the Darling Downs Melanoma Clinic in the Allied Health Centre at 8 Scott Street, East Toowoomba.