Doctor Cheryl Tallon is opening a skin cancer screening and appearance medicine clinic in her hometown of Methven.
Lotus Skin, to open on Main St on November 1, will be Mid Canterbury’s first dedicated skin cancer clinic.
Originally from the UK, Dr Tallon first arrived in Mid Canterbury to work as a ski patrol doctor at Mt Hutt in 2009.
‘‘I was only coming for the winter,’’ Tallon said.
‘‘I just loved it so much, I decided I would come back the next year.’’
She ended up staying, and worked in emergency department care in Christchurch before retraining as a GP.
She was a doctor at the Methven Medical Centre for 12 years, while she also pursued further training in skin cancer and appearance medicine.
‘‘The two things they go together. They are synchronised in a way when you think about you remove a skin cancer you want to do it in a way that produces the best scar.’’
The skin cancer element of the practice will include mole and cancer screening and treatment. The appearance medicine side will include cosmetic injectables.
She will also offer botulinum injections for the medical treatment of migraines, excessive sweating and teeth grinding.
Tallon said as a GP, she had seen a growing number of skin cancer cases in her practice , so ‘‘felt compelled to act’’.
‘‘I wanted to make sure our community has access to regular, accessible, top-tier care, right here at home,’’ Tallon said.
“I’ve lost count of how many people tell me they need a proper skin check but don’t have time to head to Christchurch,’’ she said.
‘‘I look forward to helping locals stay healthy and skin-safe without the need to travel far.’’
Meanwhile, Te Whatu Ora says New Zealand has the world’s highest rate of skin cancer, including melanoma.
