He said Mohs treatment was recommended for the face. This involved taking matter from the area and putting it under a microscope so they could \u201cwork out how much to cut out\u201d.<\/p>\n
The alternative was making \u201ca big hole\u201d and extracting \u201cprobably a lot of good tissue as well as the cancerous tissue\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite invasive surgery … whereas the Mohs is almost like plastic surgery. It\u2019s very delicate, but you\u2019re in the surgery there for a whole day while they analyse every little piece that they take out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Le Prou said he was not prepared to pay $15,000 for Mohs treatment in New Zealand and explored other options, including a $12,000 quote in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
He did not want to get surgery in hospital because it did not offer Mohs treatment, and he would have been put on a waitlist.<\/p>\n
P\u0101p\u0101moa man Ray Le Prou had a cancerous mole removed under his left eye. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it was so close to my left eye, I just didn\u2019t want to lose the eyesight in my eye.\u201d<\/p>\n
In April, he opted for surgery without Mohs treatment, which cost about $3000.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe job, though it was completed, was not that satisfactory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019d had Mohs, it would have been a lot better aesthetically.\u201d<\/p>\n
Le Prou said he had a mole removed from his back this year, which cost $800.<\/p>\n
He encouraged people to \u201ccover up\u201d, use sunscreen, get yearly skin checks and buy health insurance.<\/p>\n
Skinspots founder and MoleMap chief medical officer for New Zealand Dr Franz Strydom. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Skinspots founder Dr Franz Strydom said skin cancer was a chronic disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you\u2019ve got one skin cancer, you\u2019re very likely to have more.\u201d<\/p>\n
To prevent skin cancer, Strydom recommended to \u201cnever trust just sunscreen\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe better way to avoid it is to put something between you and the sun, and that\u2019s normally UV protective clothing or a sunshade or an umbrella … that\u2019s far more effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Cancer Society Waikato\/Bay of Plenty statement said about one in three New\u202fZealanders would get cancer in their lifetime.<\/p>\n
It said 80% of cancers in New Zealand were skin cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good news is that most skin cancers [about 90%] are preventable with sun protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we head into summer, it\u2019s more important than ever to slip on protective clothing and slip into some shade, slop on broad\u2011spectrum SPF\u202f30+ sunscreen, slap on a wide-brimmed hat, and wrap on some sunnies when the UV index is 3 or above, even on cooler or cloudy days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Early detection of skin cancer could lead to more effective treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck your skin regularly and see a health practitioner trained in melanoma detection if you notice any new or changing spots, moles or freckles.\u201d<\/p>\n
This could be a GP, nurse, or specialist such as a dermatologist, surgeon or plastic surgeon.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarly detection saves lives. Together, we can make a difference through prevention, awareness and early action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Data received from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora under the Official Information Act showed there were 98 patients on the cancer lesion surgery waitlist at Tauranga Hospital as of October 1.<\/p>\n
The average wait time for skin cancer surgery between January 1 and September 30 was 39 days.<\/p>\n
Health NZ\u2019s faster access to cancer treatment directive was the agency\u2019s target for 90% of patients to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat.<\/p>\n
For the quarter ending in June 2025, the Bay of Plenty region was at 91.9%, compared with 86.3% nationally.<\/p>\n
In July, the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (PHO) implemented a funding change for skin cancer patients<\/a> \u2013 those who were not Community Services Card holders or did not have a suspected melanoma lesion would be referred to the hospital for treatment.<\/p>\n Previously, all patients, regardless of community card status, could access community-based treatment for lesions that met the eligibility criteria.<\/p>\n The PHO said at the time it was in response to growing demand driven by population growth and high rates of skin cancer, while the Skin Lesion Service continued to operate within the same fixed budget.<\/p>\n