Nurses' role in melanoma care.

The second-ever New Zealand melanoma summit will see heaLth professionals involved in melanoma prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care gather in Wellington in March 2011 to share knowledge, promote best practice and identify priorities for action. Participants will include nurses, health promoters, GPs, dermatologists, pathologists, surgeons, oncologists and researchers.

The one-day summit at Te Papa on March 11 has been labelled "the most important day under the sun" because New Zealand melanoma incidence and death rates are among the highest in the world. Melanoma is the fourth most commonly registered cancer in New Zealand, with more than 2000 people newly diagnosed and 300 deaths each year.

A workshop looking at current best practice advice on prevention and early detection is targeted at health professionals working in primary care, particularly nurses, who are well placed to advise patients about melanoma and skin cancer prevention.

More information about the 2011 Melanoma Summit is available on the website www.metanoma.org.nz/melnet.