We understand that melanoma diagnosis and treatment can be overwhelming for patients, their carers and loved ones. We are here to provide support in many ways.
Supportive Care Matters
Our Supportive Care team will regularly write articles about topics that matter to melanoma patients. If there is a topic that you would like addressed in one of our future articles, please let us know by emailing supportivecare@melanoma.org.au
The Supportive Care Needs Study: results and next steps
The Supportive Care Needs Study investigated and identified the well-being, unmet needs, and desired services of melanoma patients and carers. This article summarises study results and vital next steps.
Living with melanoma during the festive season
For people living with melanoma and their loved ones, the holiday period can bring up mixed experiences and feelings, so we provide some tips which we hope will help make the most of this time.
Individual or group-based therapy? How to decide what is right for you.
When considering therapy, it's important to choose a form that suits you. Our Supportive Care team explains the benefits of both individual and group therapy.
How to cope with fear of melanoma returning
The fear of melanoma coming back, or progressing, is a very common experience following a melanoma diagnosis. Here are some practical strategies to help manage this fear.
MIA Clinical Psychology Service
Clinical psychology services are available at MIA, operating on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Referral by your health care professional is preferred, although self-referrals are accepted. Please note that this is not a crisis mental health service.
Phone (02) 9911 7285 or email psychology@melanoma.org.au
Melanoma Nurses
Our melanoma nurses provide direct care and support for our melanoma patients throughout their treatment journey. In Sydney our melanoma nurses provide support to patients undergoing treatment or participating in a clinical trial. In Western Australia and the Riverina we have melanoma community nurses who provide support and guidance to local patients.
Danielle Goss, Wagga melanoma nurse
Phone: 0413 766 232
Email: Danielle.Goss@melanoma.org.au
Angie Miller, WA melanoma nurse
Phone: 0459 463 451
Email: Angelica.Miller@melanoma.org.au
Telehealth Nurse
In partnership with Melanoma Patients Australia, we also provide a specialist melanoma nurse telehealth service to support patients in navigating the health system, accessing available services and making decisions regarding their health. This personalised telephone support service is available to all melanoma patients and their carers, particularly in regional and remote areas.
Emma Zurawel, Telehealth nurse
Phone 1300 884 450, or email info@melanomapatients.org.au, to book an appointment.
Melanoma: Questions and Answers Booklet
Our Melanoma: Questions and Answers Booklet is an important supportive care resource for patients with early stage melanoma. It was developed as a psychoeducational resource to help alleviate the fear of recurrence and address anxieties around diagnosis. It is designed to complement our Melanoma Prevention and Early Detection and Early Melanoma Patient Guides.
Click on cover image to download.
Melanoma: Questions and Answers Booklet
Support Services
Self care and support is so important during melanoma treatment, for patients, carers and families. Read about looking after yourself, your emotional wellbeing and where to get help in our guide.
MIA has also created a handy directory of MIA and other helpful support services, from wellbeing to psychology services.
Click the cover images to download PDF.
Patient Support Groups
MIA is pleased to partner with Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) to support melanoma patients and their carers around Australia.
Support Meetings are held monthly around Australia. These include face-to-face group meetings, user-friendly monthly online Zoom meetings and a hybrid combination of the two. In addition, Support Leaders are keeping in contact with patients and carers individually.
Note: We update the meeting details at the start of each month.
| LOCATION | DATE | MEETING FORMAT | FACILITATOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW – Sydney | Wed 1 Nov 7pm | Virtual | Martin Sander-Burn |
| VIC – Melbourne | Thurs 2 Nov 7pm | Virtual | Audrey Colbert |
| QLD – Brisbane | Fri 3 Nov 10am | Face-to-face | Brian Bailey, Ingrid Kivikoski |
| ACT – Canberra | Sun 12 Nov 11am | Hybrid | David Thiele |
| QLD – Sunshine Coast | Wed 15 Nov 12pm | Face-to-face | Christine Bleijie |
| TAS – Tasmania | Thurs 30 Nov 7pm | Hybrid | Dianne Mason |
| Mucosal Melanoma | Fri 24 Nov 2pm | Virtual | Emma Zurawel |
| Metastatic Melanoma | Thurs 9 & 23 Nov 1.30pm | Telephone | Joseph Taylor (CCNSW) & Emma Zurawel |
In addition to the above, there are ad hoc meetings held in Townsville and Rockhampton, in addition to a Hunter Region group running alternative months.
If there is no support group in your area, and you wish to connect with someone locally please contact the MPA National Support Line on 1300 88 44 50.
Support in WA
Perth Melanoma Support Group
Face-to-face meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of the month at 6pm at the Cottesloe Wellness Centre, 80 Railway Street, Cottesloe.
South West Melanoma Support Group
Face-to-face meetings are usually held the third Thursday of the month in Bunbury.
Please email wa@melanoma.org.au or call 9322 1908 – for information on WA support groups.
Additional Support in Tasmania
In addition to the Tasmania Support Meeting detailed above, please contact Melanoma Institute Australia in Tasmania for one-on-one and peer-to-peer support. Email tasmania@melanoma.org.au or call 0409 330 206.
Patient Support Videos: Melanoma Matters
Melanoma Matters is a four-part series designed to deliver vital insight through the eyes of a patient.
- Melanoma and life expectancy (Julie’s story)
- Melanoma and anxiety (Ingrid’s story)
- Melanoma in young people (Adam’s story)
- Melanoma spreading or returning (Karen’s story)
Thank you to the four patients who have bravely shared their stories to help others.
MIA would like to thank the following organisations for their support of Melanoma Matters: Melanoma Patients Australia, Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust, melanomaWA, Melanoma Tasmania and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Funding for this project was generously provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis and MSD.
Melanoma and life expectancy
Julie’s story
After being given a life expectancy of six months, Julie’s life – and that of her loved ones – was turned upside down by melanoma. Hanging on to hope was crucial. In this moving video Julie shares how she got through it and where she went for help.
You can hear more of Julie’s inspiring story in her book, Patient 71
Additional support resources:
Melanoma Institute Australia
Melanoma Facts
Cancer Research UK
Coping with advanced melanoma
Cancer Council NSW
Melanoma stages and prognosis
Cancer Council NSW
Advanced melanoma
Cancer Council Victoria
Facing End of Life booklet
Melanoma and anxiety
Ingrid’s story
Anxiety is a familiar emotion to many people diagnosed with melanoma. Ingrid finds it most challenging around scan time when she’s waiting for results.
Learn from Ingrid’s experience on how she manages anxiety and where to find support.
Additional support resources:
Melanoma Patients Australia
Anxiety
Cancer Australia
Living with cancer
Cancer Council Australia
Emotions and cancer booklet
IMPACT Melanoma (US)
Just diagnosed
Melanoma and young people
Adam’s story
Adam will never forget the day he was diagnosed with melanoma at age 27. After a hairdresser noticed a changing mole, Adam saw his doctor, thinking it would be a simple matter of having it cut out.
Adam has been through a rollercoaster of emotions and was surprised that melanoma could happen to someone his age. Hear his story as he sheds light on what it’s like to be diagnosed with melanoma so young.
Additional support resources:
Melanoma Institute Australia
Causes of melanoma in 90% of young Australians
Canteen.
Skin Cancers – Information, treatment and support
RedKite
How we help – Information & support
Game On Mole
Instagram: @gameonmole_
Melanoma spreading or returning
Karen’s story
Karen has been through the journey of melanoma progression, scan anxiety and fear of recurrence. Watch her story to find out how she managed and where to go for more help.
Additional support resources:
Melanoma Institute Australia
Stages of melanoma
Melanoma Institute Australia
Melanoma treatment options
Melanoma Patients Australia
Fear of recurrence
Melanoma Patients Australia
Staging of melanoma
Cancer Council Australia
Living well after cancer booklet