Complementary therapies are types of therapies not scientifically proven but accepted as ways that may help treat a certain condition.
Alternative therapies are used in place of conventional therapies and the risks may be unknown. You should always consult your treating clinician when considering complementary and/or alternative therapies.
The following complementary therapies are examples that can be used in combination with conventional medicine for those with melanoma.
To maintain energy levels and enhance your immune system it is important to have a nutritionally balanced diet. This should include fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy carbohydrates that are low in fats and sugar (bread, pasta, rice, cereals) and protein (lean meat, eggs, milk, beans/lentils). Alcohol and caffeine should be kept to a minimum. Discussing your diet with a dietitian may be helpful.
Dietitians Association of Australia www.daa.asn.au
Exercise can have a positive impact on your mood and wellbeing but you should be active at a level that is comfortable for you. Even small amounts of activity may make you feel better and improve your sleep.
Evidence shows that physical activity can be effective in lifting low mood, improving sleep, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.
Discussing your physical activity with a physiotherapist may be helpful.
Australian Physiotherapy Association www.physiotherapy.asn.au
Fatigue is commonly experienced by people with melanoma and can be a side effect of melanoma treatments. It is important to allow yourself adequate time to rest and recuperate. To manage excessive fatigue you should talk with your treating clinician.
Research has shown that relaxation and mindfulness techniques can counter the harmful physical effects of stress. Methods to elicit deep relaxation include guided imagery, visualisation, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, massage, breathing techniques, yoga, Tai Chi and prayer.
Ensuring a healthy mind and spirit are important and self-care is essential, especially when dealing with the stress of melanoma. Self-care is any activity that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health and is best when practised routinely.
Connecting with communities of faith or accessing local counsellors may also help in anxiety and stress reduction as well as enabling avenues to discuss difficult and often avoided issues such as the meaning of life, death and dying.
“By having a short walk outside each day I feel better in myself and have noticed that I am less stressed and sleeping better at night.” – Chris
Melanoma Patients Australia
Mater Foundation
620 Stanley Street
Woolloongabba
Brisbane, 4102
In light of National Carers Week, we wanted to shine a spotlight on Lyn Batchelor, a carer for her husband Bob and co-facilitator of the newly formed Melanoma Patients Australia Carers Support Group.
17 years ago, Bob was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and with this diagnosis came the realisation that he had already been struggling with the disease for at least 15 years prior. During Christmas 2014, Bob felt lumps in his neck and so started his journey with melanoma along with MS, including physical and mental impairment combined with stages of endless treatment and the symptoms that come with it. Lyn has been by Bob's side as his carer ever since.
Read more about Lyn's experience as a carer and how Melanoma Patients Australia has supported her journey at melanomapatients.org.au/survivor_stories/lyn-batchelor/
Lyn you are awesome. It is often harder being a carer because you have to witness what your loved one is going through so it feels like you’re going through it too, but you have to keep it together to support everyone, field calls, interpret things for well meaning friends and family, and protect your closest people all at the same time. It is a tough, relentless job. You are wonderful and it sounds like you and Bob are an impressive team. I hope you have an outlet to relax and debrief as well! Xo🥊🥊❤️
Lyn, you are a true Legend.
🎙 Introducing our patient guest speaker Narelle Wyrsch.
Narelle has been a long-time supporter of Melanoma Patients Australia and regularly attends the Melbourne support group. Narelle will be sharing her personal experience of living melanoma, and the ups and downs of being on a clinical trial, at the Melanoma Treatments and Clinical Trials webinar on Wednesday evening.
In 2009 Narelle had a small melanoma removed from her leg. In 2016 it came back via a palpable lymph node in her groin and she had a full dissection. Following this surgery she decided to go on an adjuvant therapy clinical trial which has proven to be a very positive decision for her.
Register for the free webinar now at bit.ly/mpawebinar3 and hear Narelle alongside Prof Georgina Long AO and Prof Grant McArthur.
Proudly presented by Melanoma Institute Australia and Bristol Myers Squibb.
Have you or a loved one just been diagnosed with melanoma? Or have you developed advanced melanoma? If you are feeling anxious and isolated and would like to talk to someone who cares and understands, please call our National Melanoma Support Line on 1300 88 44 50.
🎙 We are thrilled to have Professor Grant McArthur, a Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians who holds a Ph.D. in Medical Biology, as a guest speaker at our upcoming Melanoma Treatments and Clinical Trials webinar on 21 October.
Prof McArthur is the Executive Director of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre - VCCC, inaugural Lorenzo Galli Chair of Melanoma and Skin Cancers at The University of Melbourne and a Senior Principal Research Fellow (NHMRC). He is also Head of the Molecular Oncology Laboratory and of the Cancer Therapeutics Program, Cancer Research, and a Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist, Cancer Medicine at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Prof McArthur is a national and international study co-chair of a number of clinical trials of targeted therapies. Prof McArthur’s research interests include discovery of novel drug targets in cancer, targeting oncogenes, immunological effect of targeted therapies, clinical trials of targeted therapeutics, personalised medicine, melanoma, cell cycle control, metabolism and protein synthesis in cancer.
Join us for the free webinar on 21 October at 7.30pm AEDT (6.30pm AEST-QLD). Register now at bit.ly/mpawebinar3 and don't miss this amazing opportunity.
Proudly supported by Melanoma Institute Australia and Bristol Myers Squibb.
The Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) is celebrating World Skin Health Day today with the launch of a new guide to help Australians navigate how they access specialist dermatologist care in a new way in the 'new normal'.
World Skin Health Day aims to recognise and promote skin health around the world and is a joint project of International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD).
For more information visit dermcoll.edu.au/world-skin-health-day/
#worldskinday #dermatologybytelehealth #dermatologists
