‘Out, Damn Spot’ – Melanoma Diagnosis and Management in 2024 and Beyond - Maffra 2024

‘Out, Damn Spot’ – Melanoma Diagnosis and Management in 2024 and Beyond – Maffra 2024

On Friday, 18 October 2024, GRICS held a melanoma education evening in Maffra, bringing together GPs and health professionals from across Wellington and East Gippsland. This was an extension of previous melanoma events that have been held in other areas of Gippsland.

The event featured insightful presentations from leading experts from the Melanoma Institute of Australia and local workforce, including Professor Mark Shackleton, who spoke on the integration of melanoma and cancer services between Latrobe Regional Health and Alfred Health, as well as the evolution of systemic therapies for advanced melanoma. Associate Professor Yan Pan presented on the approaches to the diagnosis and biopsy of suspicious lesions, while Dr. Bhavini Shah, local medical oncologist, explored complex melanoma case studies which encouraged participation based on the learnings of the previous presentations. The evening concluded with a presentation from Dr. Divyanshu Dua, Director of Medical Services at Central Gippsland Health, on the development of the Skin Cancer Rapid Access Clinic.

The event facilitated valuable networking between local medical oncology staff, oncology nursing teams, pharmacy staff, local GPs and skin specialists. There were productive discussions about enhancing local referral pathways and strategies for delivering more comprehensive melanoma care within the region, reducing the need for patients to receive care in metropolitan areas.

One of the key benefits of the evening was fostering stronger relationships between GRICS and GPs and health practitioners, which will support ongoing engagement and make future communication about regional services and developments more seamless. By connecting with local professionals, these events pave the way for a more integrated approach to melanoma care across Gippsland.