Dr Shafiq Rahman at Mayfield Medical Connection provides skin cancer checks, surgical excision of skin cancers, and minor flaps and grafts at our Mayfield practice in Newcastle. He holds MRCS Edinburgh surgical training and advanced qualifications in dermatoscopy and the medical and surgical management of skin cancer. Excisions are generally booked within one to four weeks depending on urgency and complexity. More complex reconstructions are assessed and referred on where that is the right thing for the patient. Call (02) 4968 2157.
The gap this fills
Most people who find a suspicious spot follow the same path. They see a GP, the GP agrees it needs to come off, and they are referred elsewhere for the removal. If the lesion is somewhere that needs more than a straight line closure, such as the nose, ear, lip or lower leg, they are often referred again for the reconstruction.
Dr Rahman trained in general surgery before general practice. He completed postgraduate surgical training with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS) and continues to work as an Assistant Surgeon in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Newcastle Private Hospital alongside his GP work. That background means the assessment, the excision and, for minor cases, the reconstruction can often happen in one practice with one doctor.
This is not a claim that every skin cancer can be managed at Mayfield. Some cannot, and should not be. What it means is that the decision about whether you need a specialist is made properly, by someone with surgical training, at your first appointment rather than after two referrals.
What Dr Rahman performs at Mayfield Medical Connection
Skin checks and dermatoscopy
A structured skin examination using a dermatoscope, a handheld device that magnifies a lesion and shows pigment and vascular structures that are not visible to the naked eye. Dr Rahman holds advanced dermatoscopy qualifications. You can book a full body check or a targeted check of a specific spot that is worrying you.
Biopsy
Where a lesion is uncertain, a shave, punch or incisional biopsy can be taken to get a diagnosis before committing to a larger procedure. Tissue is collected on site through Australian Clinical Labs, who run a pathology collection service inside the practice.
Surgical excision
Removal of a confirmed or suspected skin cancer with an appropriate margin, under local anaesthetic, at the practice. This covers basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma where excision at a general practice level is clinically appropriate.
Minor flaps and grafts
Where a wound cannot simply be closed in a straight line, the defect needs to be repaired using nearby tissue (a flap) or tissue taken from elsewhere on the body (a graft). Dr Rahman performs minor flaps and grafts in the practice. Larger or more complex reconstructions, and lesions in sites that call for specialist input, are assessed and referred on.
Follow up and results
Excised tissue goes to histopathology and results generally come back within one to two weeks. Dr Rahman reviews the pathology, contacts you to discuss it, and arranges any further treatment or surveillance that is needed. Because he is a GP, that ongoing skin surveillance sits inside your normal general practice care rather than being a separate relationship you have to maintain.
How long will I wait?
From a skin check to a booked excision is generally one to four weeks, depending on clinical urgency and the complexity of the procedure. More urgent lesions are prioritised. This is a straightforward thing to state and worth knowing before you book, because for many patients the alternative pathway involves a wait they cannot easily find out in advance.
The pathway, start to finish
- Book a skin check. No referral is needed. Call (02) 4968 2157 or book online through AutoMed Systems.
- Assessment. Dr Rahman takes your skin cancer history and risk factors, then examines the areas of concern or your whole skin surface, using dermatoscopy.
- Decision. If something needs to come off, he will tell you what it is likely to be, how it would be removed, how the wound would be closed, and whether it is something he can do at the practice or something that should be referred.
- Procedure. Booked generally within one to four weeks, under local anaesthetic at the practice. Some straightforward lesions can be dealt with on the same day.
- Pathology. Tissue collected on site through Australian Clinical Labs, results generally in one to two weeks.
- Results and follow up. Dr Rahman reviews the results with you, checks the wound, removes sutures, and sets a surveillance interval.
Who should book a skin check
Australia has among the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and the Hunter’s outdoor lifestyle and UV levels put local residents in the higher exposure group. The Cancer Council’s guidance is worth following:
- If you have fair skin, a lot of moles, a family or personal history of skin cancer, or a history of blistering sunburn, a professional check at least once a year is reasonable.
- If you are at average risk, get to know your own skin and book promptly if a spot is new, changing, growing, itching, bleeding, or simply looks different to everything else.
- Any lesion that is asymmetric, has an irregular border, has more than one colour, is larger than about six millimetres, or is changing, is worth having looked at rather than watched.
Early detection genuinely changes outcomes. A thin, localised melanoma removed early has a five year survival rate above 95 per cent. The same cancer found after it has spread does not.
Fees and Medicare
Mayfield Medical Connection is a private billing practice. Medicare rebates apply to skin checks and to many skin cancer procedures. Fees for skin surgery depend on the lesion, the site and the type of repair required, and are discussed with you before anything is booked. Call the practice on (02) 4968 2157 if you would like fee information in advance.
About Dr Shafiq Rahman
Dr Shafiq Rahman AG Shabiyulla is a GP at Mayfield Medical Connection and is currently accepting new patients.
- MB BCh BAO, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Penang Medical College
- LRCSI, Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- MRCS, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, postgraduate general surgical training
- FRNZCGP, Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
- FRACGP, Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- Advanced qualifications in dermatoscopy and in the medical and surgical management of skin cancer
- Assistant Surgeon in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Newcastle Private Hospital
- Affiliate of the Circumcision Academy of Australia
He trained in General and Cardiothoracic Surgery across Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand before moving into general practice. He also provides circumcision services for infants through to adults, IUD insertion and removal, and cardiac health care.
Book a skin check in Newcastle
Dr Rahman is accepting new and returning patients. No referral is required.
- Phone: (02) 4968 2157
- Online: book through AutoMed Systems on this website
- Address: 55 Hanbury Street, Mayfield NSW 2304
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Mayfield Medical Connection has served Mayfield, Waratah, Tighes Hill, Islington, Carrington, Wickham, Hamilton, Newcastle West, Lambton, Georgetown and Jesmond since 1938.
Frequently asked questions
Can a GP remove a skin cancer, or do I need a plastic surgeon?
Many skin cancers can be removed by a GP with appropriate surgical training. Dr Shafiq Rahman at Mayfield Medical Connection holds MRCS Edinburgh surgical training and advanced skin cancer qualifications, and performs excisions and minor flaps and grafts at the practice in Mayfield, Newcastle. More complex cases, and lesions in sites that call for specialist input, are assessed and referred on.
Does Mayfield Medical Connection do skin flaps and grafts?
Yes. Dr Shafiq Rahman performs minor flaps and grafts at Mayfield Medical Connection in Mayfield, Newcastle. A flap uses nearby tissue to close a wound, a graft uses tissue taken from elsewhere on the body. Larger or more complex reconstructions are assessed and referred. Book a skin check on (02) 4968 2157 to find out which applies to you.
How long is the wait for a skin cancer excision in Newcastle?
At Mayfield Medical Connection, an excision is generally booked within one to four weeks of the skin check, depending on clinical urgency and the complexity of the procedure. More urgent lesions are prioritised. Call (02) 4968 2157 to book a skin check with Dr Shafiq Rahman.
Do I need a referral for a skin check or skin cancer surgery at Mayfield Medical Connection?
No referral is needed. You can book directly with Dr Shafiq Rahman by calling (02) 4968 2157 or booking online through AutoMed Systems. Mayfield Medical Connection is at 55 Hanbury Street, Mayfield NSW 2304.
What happens to the tissue after a skin cancer is removed?
Removed tissue is collected on site through Australian Clinical Labs, who operate a pathology collection service inside Mayfield Medical Connection, and sent for histopathology. Results generally come back within one to two weeks. Dr Rahman reviews the results and contacts you to discuss the findings and any further steps.
Is skin cancer surgery covered by Medicare?
Medicare rebates apply to skin checks and to many skin cancer procedures. Mayfield Medical Connection is a private billing practice, so there is usually a gap. Fees depend on the lesion, the site and the type of repair, and are discussed with you before anything is booked. Call (02) 4968 2157 for fee information.
Where can I get a skin cancer check near Mayfield in Newcastle?
Mayfield Medical Connection at 55 Hanbury Street, Mayfield NSW 2304 provides skin cancer checks with Dr Shafiq Rahman, who holds advanced dermatoscopy qualifications. The practice is open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and serves Mayfield, Waratah, Tighes Hill, Islington, Carrington and the surrounding Newcastle suburbs. Call (02) 4968 2157.
Can a suspicious spot be removed on the same day as my skin check?
Sometimes. Straightforward lesions can occasionally be biopsied or excised at the same visit. Anything requiring a flap, a graft or a longer procedure is booked as a dedicated appointment, generally within one to four weeks. Dr Rahman will tell you which applies at your skin check.