We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to the land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present and emerging.

This work is available from the Cancer Council website.

First published in December 2015. This edition published in June 2021.

ISBN: 978 1 76096 156 5

Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health Victoria 2021 Optimal care pathway for people with melanoma, 2nd edn, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne.

Enquiries about this publication can be sent to optimalcare.pathways@cancervic.org.au.

Our thanks to the following health professionals, consumer representatives, stakeholders and organisations consulted in developing this optimal care pathway.

Professor Mark Smithers (Chair), Surgeon, Princess Alexandra Hospital and University of Queensland

Dr Salvatore Berlangieri, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Austin Health

Associate Professor Paul Fishburn, General Practitioner, Norwest Skin Cancer Centre

Mr David Gyorki, Surgeon, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Andrew Haydon, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health

Dr Donna Milne, Skin and Melanoma Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Maggie Moore, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health

Dr Yan Pan, Dermatologist, Alfred Health and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Associate Professor Sashendra Senthi, Radiation Oncologist, Alfred Health

Professor Robert Thomas, Special Advisor on Health, Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne

Ms Julia Brancato, Project Coordinator, Optimal Care Pathways, Cancer Council Victoria

Professor Mark Smithers, Queensland Melanoma Project; Director – Upper GI & Soft Tissue, Princess Alexandra Hospital, The University of Queensland (Chair)

Dr Sam Berlangieri, Head Clinical PET, Austin Health

Ms Hannah Burell, Skin and Melanoma Nurse Coordinator, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Andrew Haydon, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health

Associate Professor John Kelly, Dermatologist, Alfred Health

Dr Scott King, Clinical Director Palliative Care Medicine, Cavalry Health Care Bethlehem

Dr Donna Milne, Skin and Melanoma Nurse Coordinator, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Maggie Moore, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health

Dr Yan Pan, Dermatologist, Alfred Health

Dr Jeremy Ruben, Radiation Oncologist, Alfred Health

Dr Joe Scopelliti, Clinical Psychologist, Alfred Health

Ms Katherine Simons, Program Manager, North East Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service, Department of Health and Human Services

Dr Neville Steer, General Practitioner, Mornington, Tanti Creek General Practice

Professor Robert Thomas, Chief Advisor on Cancer, Department of Health and Human Services

Ms Kathryn Whitfield, Acting Manager Cancer Services, Department of Health and Human Services

Alexandra Viner, Project Manager – Optimal Care Pathways

Advance Care Planning Australia

Allied Health Professions Australia

Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists

Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, Royal Australia College of Physicians

Australian and New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology

Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care

Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre

Australian College of Nursing

Australian Medical Association

Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia

Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia

Medical Oncology Group of Australia

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials

Melanoma Institute Australia

Melanoma Patients Australia

Oncology Social Workers Australia and New Zealand

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Skin Cancer College Australasia
The Australasian College of Dermatologists
TROG Cancer Research

Alfred Health

Cancer Australia

Cancer Council Victoria, Strategy and Support Division

Cancer Institute New South Wales

Concord Repatriation General Hospital New South Wales

Consumer representative

Department of Health Victoria, Commissioning and System Improvement Division, Cancer Unit

National Cancer Expert Reference Group

Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Other stakeholders consulted to provide feedback include relevant Cancer Council committees and networks, Integrated Cancer Services, Primary Health Networks and several health services.

The multidisciplinary team may include the following members:

• care coordinator (as determined by multidisciplinary team members)*
• dermatologist*
• medical oncologist*
• nuclear medicine physician*
• nurse (with appropriate expertise)*
• pathologist*
• radiation oncologist*
• radiologist/imaging specialists*
• surgeon*
• Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner
• clinical trials coordinator
• dietitian
• exercise physiologist
• fertility specialist
• general practitioner
• occupational therapist
• palliative care specialist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist
• psychiatrist
• psychologist
• social worker
• spiritual/pastoral care.

* Denotes core members. Core members of the multidisciplinary team are expected to attend most multidisciplinary team meetings either in person or remotely.