Skin cancer check

[OzMan]

A couple of weeks ago I visited the dermatology hospital near Victory Monument for a routine check. The young doctor that I saw asked what I wanted her to look at. Pointing to a spot on my wrist, she checked it and said "Old age", which was OK. She then asked if there was anything else, and I indicated I wanted my whole body checked. I cannot speak Thai and she spoke little English. Either way, she was not prepared to check my whole body, as I assumed she understood what I wanted. I suppose that is what you get for a 200 baht fee. My friend saw another doctor there a few weeks previously and had a full body scan, no problem.

 

Any suggestions for a dermatologist in Bangkok?

[connda]

Dr Varichaporn at Chiang Mai Ram if you every get this far north.  Practiced in the US, excellent English, and will check everything.

[Ratel Snake]

42 minutes ago, OzMan said:

she was not prepared to check my whole body

 

Yeah well. For 200THB she ain't gonna check under your nuts for sure.

Even a bar girl wouldn't to be fair...

[Sheryl]

Not in Bangkok but if you have occasion to go to Pattaya, Dr, Sanna at BPH

 

https://bangkokpattayahospital.com/doctor/anna-jaruwarn-m/

 

Wednesdays only

[mark5335]

10 hours ago, OzMan said:

 

Any suggestions for a dermatologist in Bangkok?

Dr Netrnapa Youngrod. She works Friday/Sunday at Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok. I saw her last month for a skin cancer check and eczema. Thorough and the best dermatologist I've seen in over 30 years. I had previously gone to Samitivej in Sukhumvit Soi 49 for a skin check and was quite disappointed by the nonchalant attitude of the dermatologist there.

[JimHuaHin]

Dr Nicha at MedPark.   I have been going to see her for years.  Extensive skin examination over about 15 minutes.

[jas007]

I’m in Bangkok and just had a skin cancer check yesterday at Bumrungrad. Just a precaution.  Anyway, the doctor didn’t find anything significant, but she did freeze off five or six little growths.  Two here “benign” and the rest she called “pre-cancerous.” Those were little specks you could hardly see. Total cost was around 10,000 baht.  

[The Fugitive]

10 minutes ago, jas007 said:

I’m in Bangkok and just had a skin cancer check yesterday at Bumrungrad. Just a precaution.  Anyway, the doctor didn’t find anything significant, but she did freeze off five or six little growths.  Two here “benign” and the rest she called “pre-cancerous.” Those were little specks you could hardly see. Total cost was around 10,000 baht.  

Very interesting and helpful, thank you. Never been checked for skin abnormalities myself but feel it would now be advisable. I had a friend who was diagnosed with skin cancer at age 32. He had 'intensive' treatment which made it go away for 17 years. He was diagnosed with it a second time and again received treatment. He was clear for another 10 years until diagnosed with kidney cancer. Unfortunately, he died 12 months later aged 60.

[ouagadougou]

16 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Not in Bangkok but if you have occasion to go to Pattaya, Dr, Sanna at BPH

 

https://bangkokpattayahospital.com/doctor/anna-jaruwarn-m/

 

Wednesdays only

 

Hi Sheryl, I can't find a Dr. Sanna.  Did you mean Jaruwarn?

[Sheryl]

53 minutes ago, ouagadougou said:

 

Hi Sheryl, I can't find a Dr. Sanna.  Did you mean Jaruwarn?

Sorry typo.  Dr. Anna Jaruwan

[Stevemercer]

On a side note, I find that Thai doctors often seem reluctant to do procedures that involve touching or manipulating the body. I recently saw 4 or 5 doctors for a hernia-like pain and only one actually felt around my lower abdomen. The rest just took my word for it (that I had a hernia like pain, but couldn't feel any bulges or protusions) and passed me onto the next doctor in the diagnostic chain.

 

 

 

 

[Travis179]

14 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Sorry typo.  Dr. Anna Jaruwan

Dr. Anna is the best. Have been seeing him for many years. I think semi-retired now, she's quite old. As someone mentioned, I think it's Wednesdays only now. But well worth the wait. She successfully treated an advanced BCC on my ear a few years ago. 

 

Dr. Waraporn as PIH also excellent.

[Roo Island]

I Highly recommend Dr Paritas at Samitivej, Soi 49, Bangkok. I went to the recommended doctor in Pattaya and while she was preparing the instruments for an invasive biopsy on my forehead, which she agreed would leave a scar, I researched doctors who could do the less invasive MOHS procedure. Only doc in the area who can is Dr Paritas. Even Bumrungrad doesn't have the equipment. Thanks to @GinBoy2 for his recommendations!

 

 Dr Paritas just froze the problem area off and all is well! Super nice guy. I'll be back soon for a follow-up.

 

 

 

 

 

[HaoleBoy]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:56 PM, connda said:

Dr Varichaporn at Chiang Mai Ram if you every get this far north.  Practiced in the US, excellent English, and will check everything.

I agree with Dr Varichaporn's recommendation; she's good.  But, if bigger melanoma is found she hands it off to the Plastic Surgeon in the Skin Lab.  This Dr is a young worthless POS.  There are better plastic surgeon's at Ram Hospital (not Ram skin care clinic).

This plastic surgeon took off a BCC on my nose and was more worried about the scar my skin patch would leave on my neck than my nose.  He also did a big melanoma on my back doing some big weird cut to take out.

[newbee2022]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:56 PM, connda said:

will check everything

Tell me more about it😂

[Sydebolle]

I do not want to sound cheeky but what do you expect for a consultation fee of 200 Baht - seriously? You got an opinion on your skin spots for a steal of a price! 

[Andyfez]

I went to Samitivej in sukhumvit Soi 49.

There's a very thorough nice lady doctor in the skin department. 

 

I previously visited a hospital starting with B  I found them very nice but not very thorough. Also very expensive. Like other posters on this thread they didn't really want to check my whole body thoroughly.

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

I do not want to sound cheeky but what do you expect for a consultation fee of 200 Baht - seriously? You got an opinion on your skin spots for a steal of a price! 

The doctor almost certainly didn't understand that the OP was prepared to pay more for a complete examination. Communication breakdown as they say?

[Roo Island]

22 hours ago, Andyfez said:

I went to Samitivej in sukhumvit Soi 49.

There's a very thorough nice lady doctor in the skin department. 

 

I previously visited a hospital starting with B  I found them very nice but not very thorough. Also very expensive. Like other posters on this thread they didn't really want to check my whole body thoroughly.

That lady is very good but only Dr Paritas can do the MOHS procedure, if needed.

[Sheryl]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:30 AM, The Fugitive said:

The doctor almost certainly didn't understand that the OP was prepared to pay more for a complete examination. Communication breakdown as they say?

It is a government hospital and not much time/inclination for preventive services.

 

The system is for nurses to screen first and then decide which doctor to send the patient to and in what order. That would be the point at which to specify full body check...

But be prepated for them not to be familuar with the concept. 

 

 

[kiwikeith]

On 4/9/2024 at 4:34 PM, jas007 said:

I’m in Bangkok and just had a skin cancer check yesterday at Bumrungrad. Just a precaution.  Anyway, the doctor didn’t find anything significant, but she did freeze off five or six little growths.  Two here “benign” and the rest she called “pre-cancerous.” Those were little specks you could hardly see. Total cost was around 10,000 baht.  

I used to go to the university hospital in Bangkok, they have a skin clinic, once you register they will see you, very good service and cheap, about 1200 Bhat for checking body and burning off. 

Petcharat hospital close to Huahin is good, had a few cut out there very cheap for surgery and test results less than 2000 Bhat for removing 3 lesions. 

I found Bangkok hospital very expensive 10,000 Bhat just for check and burn about 7 spots. 

[Roo Island]

5 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

I used to go to the university hospital in Bangkok, they have a skin clinic, once you register they will see you, very good service and cheap, about 1200 Bhat for checking body and burning off. 

Petcharat hospital close to Huahin is good, had a few cut out there very cheap for surgery and test results less than 2000 Bhat for removing 3 lesions. 

I found Bangkok hospital very expensive 10,000 Bhat just for check and burn about 7 spots. 

Samitivej burned several spots off after a check up. I think 2,200B or so. But yes, Bangkok hospitals are expensive.

[bkk6060]

Dr. Varichaporn is good, but not a surgeon.   She will do checks and biopsies, but not surgery.

 

Another place mentioned on here told me not to worry about a basil cell on my nose.  I got it rechecked in my home country and surgery to remove it.  The Doctor there said it was fairly wide spread and was growing into my nose and it was good I had it removed.

 

Also, on MOHS the Institute of Dermatology in Bangkok will do MOHS.  The price is very low.  But, they are mostly rookies in training so buyer beware.

Edited April 13 by bkk6060

[retarius]

I had an experience here similar to the OP. A few years ago I developed a basal cell cancer lesion on my chest. I went to the local dermatologist who was about 70 years old with pancaked make-up. She told me she had never seen anything like that lesion before in her life. What it is the most common skin cancer????????? But TiT

 

I knew it was basal cell and so decided to ditch the country doctor and went to a Dr Rusla at Bumrungrad. She confirmed my diagnosis and checked the rest of my torso and picked out another lesion on my back for biopsy, both turned out to be a basal cell lesions. 

[sandyf]

On 4/10/2024 at 9:05 AM, Sydebolle said:

I do not want to sound cheeky but what do you expect for a consultation fee of 200 Baht - seriously? You got an opinion on your skin spots for a steal of a price! 

Depends where you go. At my hospital it is 100 baht to see a doctor and when I needed to see a dermatologist they made appointments for same day as cardiologist, still 100 baht so saw one for free or 2 at 50 baht.

After a while the dermatologist referred me to the plastic surgeon and that consultation was also 100 baht. He took one look and said the lump on my ear was cancer, just a question of which type. He removed about one sq in from my ear a few hours later, turned out to be BCC.

Have to say he did excellent job, very neat, just a bit lop sided now. Go back and see him for a check up every 3 months, has a good look around face, neck and arms taking photos of any spots/lumps.

 

[Roo Island]

2 hours ago, retarius said:

I had an experience here similar to the OP. A few years ago I developed a basal cell cancer lesion on my chest. I went to the local dermatologist who was about 70 years old with pancaked make-up. She told me she had never seen anything like that lesion before in her life. What it is the most common skin cancer????????? But TiT

 

I knew it was basal cell and so decided to ditch the country doctor and went to a Dr Rusla at Bumrungrad. She confirmed my diagnosis and checked the rest of my torso and picked out another lesion on my back for biopsy, both turned out to be a basal cell lesions. 

What did they do about the lesions? I'm back with the doc next week. I'll make sure he does a full body check!

[Sydebolle]

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

Depends where you go. At my hospital it is 100 baht to see a doctor and when I needed to see a dermatologist they made appointments for same day as cardiologist, still 100 baht so saw one for free or 2 at 50 baht.

After a while the dermatologist referred me to the plastic surgeon and that consultation was also 100 baht. He took one look and said the lump on my ear was cancer, just a question of which type. He removed about one sq in from my ear a few hours later, turned out to be BCC.

Have to say he did excellent job, very neat, just a bit lop sided now. Go back and see him for a check up every 3 months, has a good look around face, neck and arms taking photos of any spots/lumps.

 

Excellent news, can you kindly name the medical facility by name, location or phone number please? 

[helloagain]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:18 PM, OzMan said:

A couple of weeks ago I visited the dermatology hospital near Victory Monument for a routine check. The young doctor that I saw asked what I wanted her to look at. Pointing to a spot on my wrist, she checked it and said "Old age", which was OK. She then asked if there was anything else, and I indicated I wanted my whole body checked. I cannot speak Thai and she spoke little English. Either way, she was not prepared to check my whole body, as I assumed she understood what I wanted. I suppose that is what you get for a 200 baht fee. My friend saw another doctor there a few weeks previously and had a full body scan, no problem.

 

Any suggestions for a dermatologist in Bangkok?

Go to any International Hospital. I am checked all over every 4 months. Please google "coolibar.com" it's an American company that produces 98% guaranteed UV protection clothing, ideal for when you are on a motorbike or if you have little hair.  

[sandyf]

On 4/13/2024 at 11:43 AM, Sydebolle said:

Excellent news, can you kindly name the medical facility by name, location or phone number please? 

The government hospital at Bang Saen.

https://med.go.buu.ac.th/burapha-university-hospital

[Roo Island]

On 4/14/2024 at 3:07 PM, sandyf said:

The government hospital at Bang Saen.

https://med.go.buu.ac.th/burapha-university-hospital

The only government hospitals that I would rely on for something serious are in Bangkok. Definitely not provincial ones...