The management of melanoma and complex skin cancers has been revolutionised in the last decade with huge breakthroughs in skin cancer treatment. No longer is it the role of the surgeon to just “cut out” skin cancers.
New treatments have been developed which assist in the management and treatment of these types of cancers with significant improvements in cure and survival rates. The challenge for any surgeon is in staying up to date with these advances, which are constantly redefining the surgeon’s role within the treatment process.
Excellence in complex skin cancer care now requires a highly specialist multidisciplinary team approach. Dr Rtshiladze is a member of a number of such teams and is particularly privileged to be part of the team at The Melanoma Institute Australia. The goal is always to bring world class care, treatment and results to Australian patients.
More about Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from the cells which give your skin it’s colour (melanocytes). Whilst it is less common than other types of skin cancer, it is one of the most serious due to its ability to recur or spread to other areas of the body.
The Melanoma Institute Australia has published excellent resources explaining the various stages of Melanoma. These patient guides and videos are available on the Melanoma Institute Australia website for you to download and view. However, you will also be given a hard copy of the appropriate patient guide during your appointment with Dr Rtshiladze. You can find the patient guides at the following link (https://melanoma.org.au/patientinfo).
A Melanoma appointment can be a very stressful and anxious time for patients. You may be feeling apprehensive and worried having just discovered your diagnosis. Many patients have more questions than answers by the time they attend their initial appointment with Dr Rtshiladze. We encourage you to bring with you a close friend or family member as melanoma consultations can be lengthy and contain lots of information. Having a second pair of ears is always a good idea to help remember some of the finer details of the conversation. It also provides your loved one the opportunity to ask questions so that their concerns can also be addressed.
On being welcomed into the practice, your appointment will begin with Dr Rtshiladze asking you a series of questions to find out more about you and your background. This is an important part of your initial consultation so that your care and treatment can be tailored to you as an individual.
A careful examination will be conducted at this appointment by Dr Rtshiladze. This will be followed by a discussion about your initial biopsy results and what that report actually means for you. The last part of your consultation will be developing a management plan for your melanoma or skin cancer treatment.
Melanoma management can be complex and the decisions made on how to care for melanomas may not be straight forward. As a member of the Melanoma Institute Australia, Dr Rtshiladze can draw on the insight and experience of a room full of world class clinicians who specialise in melanoma treatment and who can offer their opinions and guidance on the best treatment options.
Other Skin Cancers
The most common non-melanoma skin cancers we see at the practice are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). BCCs tend to be slower growing (over a period of months to years) whilst SCCs grow at a faster rate (over several weeks or months). BCCs make up about 70% of non-melanoma skin cancers whilst SCCs account for the remaining 30%. In the majority of cases these skin cancers are less likely to spread to other parts of the body, but if left untreated can result in local invasion into the soft tissues, bones, nerves and vessels.
The challenge in these cases is usually associated with the size and location of the cancer and removal can often present cosmetic concerns. At your appointment, Dr Rtshiladze will discuss with you the best surgical removal and repair options to manage your specific needs.
Skin lesions and tumours can occur in children and often require special expertise to manage well. Dr Rtshiladze is a consultant surgeon at The Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick where he treats a number of children with skin lesions and tumours. He is fortunate to work alongside specialist paediatric dermatologists and medical oncologists and frequently collaborates with them to manage challenging and difficult cases.
Dr Rtshiladze also looks after children aged 2 and above through his work at St George Private Hospital and Mater Hospital.
