Cancer Dx without biopsy?

[RPN_2006]

Today I had coffee with a girlfriend who showed me a spot on her leg. It was raised and irregular and the centre was a greyish black. She said the raised part was an old shaving scar, but she thought it was strange that it had only recently changed color. She seemed pretty unconcerned about it overall and had no plans to see the doctor.

I explained what I had learned this year in school regarding skin lesions and she became scared enough to see the doctor today.

He took a look and told her straight away it was cancer. He then burned it off with nitric acid and told her to come back in two weeks. He never told her what type of skin cancer he thought it was, and he took no biopsy.

Does this seem right? Shouldn't it have been biopsied for an accurate Dx?

She's pretty scared right now and would like to know what kinds of questions she should be asking.

Thanks for your input.

[nursepotter05, RN]

I would think that the doctor should have gotten a biopsy to see what kind of skin cancer it was and to see if it has spread.

[RPN_2006]

I would think that the doctor should have gotten a biopsy to see what kind of skin cancer it was and to see if it has spread.

That's what I thought too. I'm sure he reckognizes cancer when he sees it, it just seems strange to me.