Spot check van
Our dedicated mobile spot check van travels the country, providing education and awareness about melanoma and enabling New Zealanders to have free skin cancer spot checks.
What is the spot check van?
The spot check van is a superb educational resource and is critical in our fight to save lives.
The spot check van travels to communities around New Zealand with Melanoma New Zealand’s dedicated Nurse Educator, to provide free skin cancer spot checks and raise awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention of melanoma.
Spot checks are a great way to engage in conversation, however they are not a substitute for regular full body skin checks by your GP or specialist.
We publish the locations of our Spot Check Van approximately three weeks in advance in the calendar below.
If you have any spot that you are concerned about, please don’t wait for the van to come to your town – seek medical advice immediately.
Spot check van locations.
Early detection saves lives
The van enables us to reach many New Zealanders, including rural and remote communities, many of whom work outdoors and so may be at higher risk of developing a melanoma. To date, we have seen:
Van visitors
Suspicious lesions (BCC, SCC or other suspected cancerous lesion)
Suspected melanomas
If melanoma is recognised and treated early enough it is almost always curable.
The spot check van saved my life. Mum went with me and waited outside the van while I got checked, and as soon as the nurse Gill saw the mole on my arm, she gently told me that it looked suspicious, and that I needed to go to my doctor. She was really professional, but also so warm and supportive; I felt that even though I was being given some challenging news, I wasn’t alone in that moment. Gill’s wonderful manner kept me calm, but also made me very aware that I needed to do something.
– Sarah Dixon
Spot check van FAQ
What is the Spot check van?
The Melanoma New Zealand Spot Check Van is a fully resourced mobile clinic, which travels to communities around New Zealand. It is staffed by a registered and experienced dermoscopy nurse, who provides educational material about melanoma prevention and early detection, and who will examine up to three spots of concern. Clinical notes will be referred to a GP.
Can I get a full skin check?
The Spot Check van does not provide full skin checks and should not take the place of regular full body skin checks by your GP or specialist . The purpose of the van is to provide information about melanoma prevention and early detection and to offer a check of up to three spots . You can check skin check providers near to where you live here.
What can I expect from a spot check van visit?
Come aboard the Spot Check Van to ask questions about melanoma while you get some spots checked, learn about the characteristics of melanoma, how to protect your skin and what to do if you have any suspicious lesions.
Spot check van support & volunteer
Some people look sideways at the van and its message. These are the ones I try to talk to, as they are often worried about something but are afraid of bad news.
With encouragement, they’ll come closer and say, “My wife’s worried about the spot on my back” or, “My father had melanoma and I’m scared that’s what this is, but I don’t want to find out”.
They come out of the van with relief written all over their faces, and even for those whose check revealed a spot which needed following up, they now have an answer and a plan.
It’s satisfying to support the important work the Spot Check van and Melanoma New Zealand are doing.
– Katherine Clayton
Book a Spot Check Van Visit
I am just so grateful I was in the right place at the right time.
– Delwyn Hardgrave
