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When Dr Gracy Gouda first moved to Wagga in 2005 it was originally only for 12 months before moving back to Sydney.
Before she knew it she was studying to become a skin cancer doctor to help her patients.
“My husband and three daughters loved it here and when we were ready to move they had already made friends. So we decided to stay and we are happy we did,” she said.
Dr Gouda is the GP principal and skin cancer Doctor at Trinity Medical Centre.
“I love my patients and always endure for their best,” she said.
“For this I decided, as I came to watch many patients with skin cancers, that there is a need for further specialisation in that line.
“I started by doing multiple dermoscopy courses and obtained five dermoscopy diplomas, then moved on to the surgical diplomas and then decided to do my Masters Degree in skin cancer
“Currently, I am preparing for my PhD in skin cancer.
“The aim of the studies is to be more equipped with useful knowledge to help my patients.”
For skins checks the latest technology in skin cancer digital dermoscopy (Fotofinder brand) is used.
“The examination is by both polarised and non-polarised light for better lesion identification and diagnosis,” Dr Gouda said.
“Following the initial scanning, if the need arises then, a biopsy is undertaken for further evaluation and management. Once the diagnosis is obtained then the choice of treatment will be between a medical or a surgical pathway.”
Since working in medicine Dr Gouda has found the biggest misconception is that “a pill will fix it.”
“It definitely takes more than a pill to fix things, it is a lifestyle modification,” she said.
“It takes “slip, slop, slap, seek and slide” to prevent skin cancer, it needs people to be vigilant about their health in general and their skin in particular, it needs people to take ownership of their health and not depend on others to just do that for them.
“We need to spread the correct knowledge and defeat the medical myths, we need to encourage disease prevention and not to wait for disease treatment.”