A Surgeon and Oncologist discuss: How to address common questions from your patients with Stage IIB‒C and Stage III melanoma

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Patient questions in melanoma: Explore the series

This video series offers insights and experienced-based strategies from both an Oncologist and a Surgeon who are involved in managing patients with melanoma.

The five videos focus on key elements of the Stage IIB‒C and Stage III patient pathway, with the aim of sharing learnings that could help enhance your own clinical practice.

Each video concludes with reflection questions, designed to help you evaluate and effectively apply the discussed concepts to your clinical practice.

This video series is CPD certified. To qualify for the certificate, you must watch all five videos in the series completely, and consider the reflection questions to achieve 60 minutes of total learning time.

You will need to be signed in to MSD Connect to download the certificate.

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Patient questions about adjuvant therapy

Length: 05:56 | This video is best viewed in full screen, using the button on the bottom right.
This video discusses practical approaches for conversations with patients about staging and possible adjuvant therapy to address their questions effectively.

Reflection questions for video 1

Take a moment to note your key takeaway, a learning point, or something you’d like to discuss further with colleagues as a result of watching this video.

Reflect on the following questions:

In this video, do the patient questions highlighted reflect what you experience in your clinical practice?
In your centre, do conversations about adjuvant therapy with patients take place prior to surgery? If so, who is responsible for those conversations?
In your centre, how do both the access and timelines for imaging and sentinel lymph node biopsy factor into the patient pathway and discussions about possible adjuvant therapy?
On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 refers to strongly focussing on the risks and 5 strongly on the benefits, where do you think clinicians should position the conversation when discussing adjuvant therapy with patients?

Discussing staging and risk of recurrence

Length: 05:17 | This video is best viewed in full screen, using the button on the bottom right.
This video explores when staging is considered complete, the role of imaging in staging, and considerations associated with completing sentinel lymph node biopsies. The video also addresses common patient questions following discussions on recurrence, and offers strategies to help patients make informed decisions.

Reflection questions for video 2

Take a moment to note your key takeaway, a learning point, or something you’d like to discuss further with colleagues as a result of watching this video.

Reflect on the following questions:

How might the timing and completeness of staging (including the use of different imaging techniques and genetic tests) impact your decision to undertake a conversation with your patient around adjuvant therapy?
When discussing the risk of recurrence with patients who have Stage IIB–C melanoma, how do you approach the conversation, considering factors such as national guidelines, tumour staging and patient preferences?
When discussing next steps with patients who have scan-related anxiety, particularly when there are delays in receiving results, how do you approach the conversation to help manage their concerns?
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree), how strongly do you agree with the following statement: “Offering multiple consultations and allowing patients to reflect on their treatment options improves engagement and decision-making in the management of patients with Stage IIB–C melanoma.”

Sequencing patient discussions: What to discuss, when?

Length: 04:55 | This video is best viewed in full screen, using the button on the bottom right.
This video examines the optimal timing for initiating discussions on the potential need for adjuvant therapy and explaining risk of recurrence, while also considering how timing of imaging influences the sequence of patient conversations.

Reflection questions for video 3

Take a moment to note your key takeaway, a learning point, or something you’d like to discuss further with colleagues as a result of watching this video.

Reflect on the following questions:

What further support do patients require when the rationale for possible adjuvant therapy following surgery is discussed with them?
In your centre, who is primarily responsible for discussing risk of recurrence after surgery?
In your centre, how significant is the issue of necessary imaging results not being available on time when referring a patient to an Oncologist quickly after surgery?

Practical techniques for productive patient discussions

Length: 04:42 | This video is best viewed in full screen, using the button on the bottom right.
This video focusses on practical techniques for approaching important conversations on risk, sharing information effectively with patients, and strategies for communicating results in a way that supports understanding and joint decision-making.

Reflection questions for video 4

Take a moment to note your key takeaway, a learning point, or something you’d like to discuss further with colleagues as a result of watching this video.

Reflect on the following questions:

Which of the following approaches discussed do you find most effective when discussing the risk of recurrence with a patient?
- Use fractions or ratios instead of percentages (e.g. one in every X people)
- Use positive rather than negative statistics (e.g. X% of people are unlikely to experience this side effect)
- Stay positive during the conversation
- Avoid sharing personal opinions to maintain objectivity in the discussion
In what ways would the techniques discussed in the video prepare clinicians to have effective, productive conversations with patients?
How comfortable would you feel applying the techniques from the video when discussing the risk of recurrence with patients in your clinic?
Do you believe it would be feasible and beneficial to eliminate telephone consultations entirely? Do you see value in telephone consultations?

The future of melanoma care: Insights into maximising collaboration and efficiency

Length: 05:07 | This video is best viewed in full screen, using the button on the bottom right.
This video explores what efficient multidisciplinary team collaboration looks like and the potential benefits of joint clinics. It concludes with key takeaways on the future of melanoma care.

Reflection questions for video 5

Take a moment to note your key takeaway, a learning point, or something you’d like to discuss further with colleagues as a result of watching this video.

Reflect on the following questions:

Do the ideas discussed for multidisciplinary team collaboration resonate with what you find in your clinical practice?
How likely is it that the ideas discussed in the video will improve your approach in a melanoma multidisciplinary team?
Do you think that co-located clinics will become more essential as collaboration and advancements in melanoma treatments continue to grow?
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree), how optimistic do you feel about the potential of adjuvant treatments to improve outcomes in patients with Stage IIB–C and III melanoma?

Download your certificate

Indications

KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) as monotherapy is indicated for:¹

The adjuvant treatment of adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with Stage IIB, IIC or III melanoma and who have undergone complete resection

Reference

KEYTRUDA Summary of Product Characteristics. United Kingdom. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2498 (accessed April 2025)
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