A medical revolution is quietly unfolding in Australia, and it’s giving hope to thousands of people facing one of our deadliest cancers: melanoma.
If you or someone you love has ever worried about a suspicious mole or faced a melanoma diagnosis, you’ll want to read on—because the future of treatment is looking brighter than ever.
For decades, a diagnosis of late-stage melanoma was often a grim sentence. Australia, with its sun-soaked climate and outdoor lifestyle, has the highest rates of melanoma in the world.
Every 30 minutes, someone here is told they have melanoma, and tragically, we lose a life to the disease every six hours.
But now, thanks to a revolutionary new approach, those statistics may soon be turned on their head.
Turning the tables on cancer
Meet Matthew Croxford, a 52-year-old father of two who knows firsthand the terror of a late-stage melanoma diagnosis.
When doctors found a tumour the size of a golf ball, Matthew feared the worst. ‘You think—is this it?’ he said. ‘And I had a lot of things to still achieve in my life.’
But Matthew was offered a lifeline: participation in a groundbreaking clinical trial led by Australian and Dutch researchers. T
he results? Nothing short of astonishing.
How does the new treatment work?
Traditionally, the standard approach for Stage 3 melanoma has been surgery first, followed by a single immunotherapy drug. But this new method flips the script.
Instead, patients receive a powerful combination of two immunotherapy drugs before surgery. The idea is to shrink the tumour and, crucially, to ‘train’ the immune system to recognise and attack any remaining cancer cells.
Professor Georgina Long from the Melanoma Institute explains it with a simple analogy: ‘It’s like the sniffer dogs at the airport.
By giving immunotherapy before surgery, we train our immune system better against the cancer.’
The results speak for themselves. In a trial of 423 patients, those who received the new treatment had a less than five per cent chance of their melanoma returning.
That’s a dramatic improvement over previous survival rates and a genuine game-changer for patients and their families.
PBS listing: Making breakthroughs accessible
Perhaps the best news of all? This revolutionary treatment will soon be subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it accessible to Australians who need it most.
This is a world first, and it means that cost will no longer be a barrier to receiving the best possible care.
A ripple effect across cancer care
While this breakthrough is a huge leap forward for melanoma, its impact could be even broader.
Researchers are already exploring whether this approach—immunotherapy before surgery—could benefit patients with other types of cancer, including lung, triple-negative breast, kidney, and head and neck cancers.
If successful, it could transform cancer care across the board.
A new lease on life
For Matthew Croxford, the results have been life-changing. ‘I’m effectively cancer-free, I have no side effects whatsoever, and I’m incredibly fortunate,’ he says.
Stories like Matthew’s are becoming more common, and they offer hope to everyone touched by cancer.
Credit: Melanoma Institute Australia, 9NEWS / Instagram
What does this mean for you?
If you’re over 50, you’re in the age group most at risk for melanoma. Regular skin checks, sun protection, and early intervention remain crucial.
But now, if the worst happens, there’s a new reason to hope.
This breakthrough is a testament to the power of medical research, international collaboration, and the importance of making cutting-edge treatments available to all Australians—not just those who can afford them.
Have your say
Have you or someone you know been affected by melanoma? What are your thoughts on this new treatment approach? Do you have questions about immunotherapy or the PBS?
We’d love to hear your stories, concerns, and hopes for the future. Share your experiences in the comments below—your voice could help others facing the same journey.
And remember: the future of cancer care is changing, and together, we’re stronger than melanoma.
Also read: Radical screening revamp—could this move rewrite men’s cancer survival odds?
