MELANOMA AND SURVIVORSHIP The new buzz word in cancer treatment is Survivorship and many of our members have heard about the phrase through their reading and online. The question we at Melanoma Patients Australia are most often asked is - Can I ever say I am a Melanoma Survivor? This is a question that each member seems to answer in their own way. Some people want to use the word survivor as they feel they have overcome the melanoma. Other members say they will never fully feel free of melanoma (regardless of if there is an absence of physical symptoms) and would never say they have survived melanoma but instead that they are living with it. Neither is right or wrong - it is a matter of personal opinion. There are many opinions about the term Survivorship but whatever way you choose to identify yourself, it is likely that you may be experiencing some common issues felt by cancer patients generally such as post treatment follow up care, ongoing management and check ups, or indeed the emotional reality of having confronted mortality. Receiving treatment for melanoma, particularly advanced melanoma, can be overwhelming - physically, emotionally and psychologically. Treatments can be severe and for others the physical scars from excisions/surgery are a constant reminder of melanoma. Some of our younger members voice concerns surrounding parenthood and fertility both before, during and after melanoma treatment. There are many issues to confront as a survivor. Based at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, on behalf of the Victorian Department of Health, is pleased to advise that the Approaches to better care for Victorian cancer survivors presentation videos are now available. The presentations (recorded on 27 March 2014) provide an overview of the Victorian Cancer Survivorship Program, a presentation from each pilot project including evaluation findings and key learnings, and a summation and future directions presentation. Whether you consider yourself to be a survivor or not, this website is worth a look. And let us know... How do you see Survivorship and melanoma?
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 04:11:48 +0000