We hope you are okay after receiving a diagnosis of advanced melanoma.
The MSCAN team have been in your shoes. We understand the (many) challenges in receiving a diagnosis and then living well after diagnosis. It was our combined lived experiences that led us to establish MSCAN so more could be done to help people across Australia when they are diagnosed with advanced melanoma.
One of MSCAN’s priorities is to provide helpful information and resources to people at the time of, or soon after, diagnosis. That is why we developed the Spot on Resource.
The Spot on Resource is a helpful guide for people with an advanced melanoma diagnosis, their families and friends.
Learning Hub
Melanoma
Non-melanoma skin cancer
MSCAN has worked with experts from around Australia to make sure the Spot on Resource is as helpful and up to date as possible. Receiving a diagnosis of advanced (also known as metastatic) melanoma is very stressful. In an instant, your world has changed.
There are so many new and hard things to think about:
- How do I tell my family and friends?
- What are all the new words and medical terms I need to understand?
- When do I make appointments to see the doctor?
- How do I make appointments for scans and tests?
- How do I make decisions about treatment?
- What do I do next?
The Spot on Resource helps answer these questions and other questions that will come up in the days, weeks and months after being diagnosed.
The Spot On Resource
The Spot on Resource is designed to go everywhere with you.
- Helps you keep track of appointments and key dates
- Has space for the contact details of your treating team, outpatient clinic and GP in one spot
- Informs you about the stages of melanoma and possible treatment options
- Provides pages so you can take notes during appointments
- Includes handy suggestions on how to live well after a diagnosis
- Has space for you to write down questions for your treating team
- Lets you record any medications and information on your health and wellbeing, so you can share this with your treating team.
Get your free copy of the Spot On Resource
MSCAN acknowledges the incredible experts and specialists who provided content and advice to ensure the Spot on Resource is as accurate and helpful as possible.
The Spot on Resource was made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Dry July Foundation. The Dry July Foundation raises money to improve the comfort, care and wellbeing of people in Australia affected by cancer.
Other resources
Take a look at MSCAN’s other resources to help guide you through your diagnosis of advanced melanoma.
Explaining melanoma to kids
Explaining any cancer diagnosis to a child is difficult, including melanoma. This comic book is perfect for kids aged 7 to 12 to help them understand melanoma.
Blog: Tamara’s melanoma story
Tamara Dawson, Founder and Director of MSCAN, shares her melanoma journey and how she is one of the too many Australians that has been diagnosed with skin cancer
Podcast: Advanced melanoma
In this episode we learn about advanced melanoma; in particular stage III and IV melanoma, and the different kinds of gene mutations and why they are important.
Podcast: Jarryd Roughead-Diagnosed with advanced melanoma
Jarryd Roughead, AFL Hawthorn superstar, shares his story with MSCAN about his advanced melanoma diagnosis
Podcast: Coping with a skin cancer diagnosis
Dr. Eleanor De Ath-Miller talks to MSCAN about coping with a skin cancer diagnosis
Blog: Clinical trials for melanoma & skin cancer patients
Clinical trials and what they mean for melanoma and skin cancer patients