Complementary therapies may be used together with conventional medical treatments to support and enhance quality of life and wellbeing. They do not aim to cure the patient’s cancer. Instead, they are used to help control symptoms such as pain and fatigue (Cancer Council Australia 2019). The lead clinician or health professional involved in the patient’s…

Distress can occur, particularly for patients with deeply indented scars, such as those that occur with skin grafting and/or with disfigurement, especially of the face, head and neck. Providing patients with tailored and accurate information prior to treatment, facilitating patient decision making about appearance altering treatment, and meeting others with similar personal experience may assist…

Supportive care in cancer refers to the following five domains: the physical domain, which includes a wide range of physical symptoms that may be acute, relatively short lived or ongoing, requiring continuing interventions or rehabilitation the psychological domain, which includes a range of issues related to the patient’s mental health wellbeing and personal relationships the…

Clinical trials may help improve palliative care and in managing a patient’s symptoms of advanced melanoma (Cancer Council Victoria 2019). The treatment team should support the patient to participate in research and clinical trials where available and appropriate. For more information visit the Cancer Australia website. See ’Resource list’ for additional clinical trial databases.

Responsibility for follow-up care should be agreed between the lead clinician, the general practitioner, relevant members of the multidisciplinary team and the patient. This is based on guideline recommendations for post-treatment care, as well as the patient’s current and anticipated physical and emotional needs and preferences. Evidence comparing shared follow-up care and specialised care indicates…

Advance care planning is important for all patients with a cancer diagnosis but especially those with advanced disease. Patients should be encouraged to think and talk about their healthcare values and preferences with family or carers, appoint a substitute decision-maker and consider developing an advance care directive to convey their preferences for future health care…

If the treatment team does not include a palliative care member, the lead clinician should consider referring the patient to palliative care services, with the general practitioner’s engagement. This may include inpatient palliative unit access (as required). The multidisciplinary team may consider seeking additional expertise from these professionals: clinical psychologist clinical nurse specialist or practitioner…

The transition from active treatment to post-treatment care is critical to long-term health. In some cases, people will need ongoing, hospital-based care, and in other cases a shared follow-up care arrangement with their general practitioner may be appropriate. This will vary depending on the type and stage of melanoma and needs to be planned. Shared…

Treatment will depend on the location, extent of recurrent or residual disease, previous management and the patient’s preferences. In managing people with advanced melanoma, treatment may include these options: surgery systemic therapies radiation therapy The potential goals of treatment should be discussed, respecting the patient’s cultural values. Wherever possible, written information should be provided. Encourage…

If there is an indication that a patient’s cancer has returned, care should be provided under the guidance of a treating specialist. Each patient should be evaluated to determine if referral to the original multidisciplinary team is necessary. Often referral back to the original multidisciplinary team will not be necessary unless there are obvious aspects…