PURPOSE OF REVIEW: With incidence of melanoma growing worldwide and new therapies prolonging the survival of patients with advanced disease, complex medical care is needed. RECENT FINDINGS: Best care of complicated melanoma cases is achieved in specialized referral centers. Aims to provide optimized melanoma therapy, best patient-reported treatment outcome, and successful clinical and translational research, necessitate a dedicated interdisciplinary team. SUMMARY: We report on critical aspects of the interaction between patients, medical care givers, clinical trial and biobanking teams, and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary tumor boards. Specialized skin cancer nurses and local patient advocacy groups should be involved in patient care and could be the binding link between the patients and the treatment team.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: With incidence of melanoma growing worldwide and new therapies prolonging the survival of patients with advanced disease, complex medical care is needed. RECENT FINDINGS: Best care of complicated melanoma cases is achieved in specialized referral centers. Aims to provide optimized melanoma therapy, best patient-reported treatment outcome, and successful clinical and translational research, necessitate a dedicated interdisciplinary team. SUMMARY: We report on critical aspects of the interaction between patients, medical care givers, clinical trial and biobanking teams, and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary tumor boards. Specialized skin cancer nurses and local patient advocacy groups should be involved in patient care and could be the binding link between the patients and the treatment team.