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.
Patient Support Groups
Patient Support Group Meetings are held monthly around Australia. All melanoma patients – and their families, carers and friends – are welcome to attend. Meetings are co-ordinated by our friends at Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA).
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.
Please use the button below to go to the Melanoma Patients Australia website to see all times and dates for Patient Support Group Meetings. Note: The meeting details are updated at the end of each month.
On the Melanoma Patients Australia website you will also see a link to register to attend a Support Group for the first time. The team will respond to your request.
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
Coping with scanxiety
Scanxiety is a normal feeling experienced by many people, commonly when awaiting test results. In this article we explain more about scanxiety and share some tips for coping.
Caring for a loved one diagnosed with melanoma
Family and friends play a critical 'carer' role throughout the melanoma journey. In this supportive care article, Claire Gore explains common carer experiences, tips for managing carer stress and resources available.
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.
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.
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 the Riverina our melanoma community nurse provides 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
Angie is on parental leave during 2025.
Patient support is now available through Melanoma Patients Australia.
MIA Clinical Psychology Service
Clinical psychology services are available at MIA, operating on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This service is available for MIA patients or patients of clinicians affiliated with MIA. 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.
Please click on the cover below to read more about our Clinical Psychology Service.
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 Facts Sheets
Click the cover images below to download PDF.
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
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