Townsville-based Skin Cancer Doctor,
Dr. Robert Teunisse

Advanced Certificate Skin Cancer Medicine & Surgery and Advanced Certificate Dermoscopy (distinction) SCCA

FRACGP, DIPMED KU LEUVEN (Cum Laude) | AHPRA registration MED0000968742

Dr Robert completed his medical degree and specialist general practitioner training at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. It was here where he met his wife and they both travelled to South America where Dr Robert gained 6 months’ practical medical experience in Argentina and Ecuador. As a junior doctor he gained further experience in general practice and emergency medicine in Belgium, Netherlands and South Africa. Since arriving in Australia in 2006, he has attained Fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and has worked in general practice. The Australian exposure, coupled with his interest in procedural work, directed his focus to skin cancer management. Dr. Robert has worked at the dedicated skin cancer clinic Skin Repair Skin Cancer Clinic in Townsville since 2014 and regularly flies out to remote North Queensland to deliver outreach skin cancer services.

What is a Skin Cancer Doctor?

Skin Cancer College Accredited Doctor Logo

A skin cancer doctor is a specialist general practitioner. Not to be confused with a dermatologist, a doctor who treats all matters of the skin, or a plastic surgeon, who are trained in a wider range of reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. A skin cancer doctor is specifically trained to detect skin cancers with the help of a dermatoscope and manage a wide range of biopsy and excision techniques, as well as other treatments. These specialists are usually focussed on early skin cancers management (ie not metastatic skin cancer).

What is a Dermatoscope?

Close up image of a dermascope

The development of a handheld dermatoscope has greatly improved a clinician’s ability to identify skin cancer. A dermatoscope is a magnifier combined with a light source and a polarising filter, providing optimal visual opportunity to detect malignancies, as patterns in pigmentation and blood vessels can help identify skin cancers.