ANNETTE ST CLAIR on SKIN CARE AND MELANOMAS

Annette St Clair will talk to the club about being aware of your skin so you can identify changes and potential melanomas. Annette lost her daughter, Amie to melanoma. As a registered nurse she will discuss the latest research on the treatment of melanomas with immunotherapy drugs. She will also discuss the latest technology for detecting melanomas, such as the Vesta machine which produces high definition photographs of your skin. The stated  mission of her organisation is to have no deaths from melanomas by 2030.


SKIN CARE AND MELANOMAS

In August 2007, Annette’s daughter Amie was 20 years of age when she was diagnosed with melanoma. Amie battled long and hard for just over 3 years trying every available treatment. This unpredictable cancer appeared again and again. Amie went through numerous surgeries, however it spread too quickly. On the 9th November 2009, a day after her 23rd birthday, Amie lost her battle. In 2010, Annette and her husband Peter set up Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust in Amie’s honour to educate and support Riverina families. In 2020 the Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust merged with Melanoma Institute Australia, resulting in further support for regional patients.

Over exposure to UV radiation causes 95% of melanomas.Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. It develops in the skin’s pigment cells, known as melanocytes, and can spread via the blood and lymphatic system to distant organs like the lungs, liver and brain.

Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world. Melanoma of the skin was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2019. In 2023, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 17 (or 5.9%) risk of being diagnosed with melanoma of the skin by the age of 85. In 2023 there were 18,257 new cases of melanoma in Australia, 10,639 of these were males and 7,618 females. The estimated number of deaths in 2023 were 1,314; 853 males and 461 females. The Melanoma Institute Australia is working towards no deaths from melanoma by the end of this decade.

ANNETTE ST CLAIR

Annette was born in West Wyalong and grew up in Ungarie. When she was 18 she completed nursing training in Sydney, and then gained experience in private and public hospitals, including 28 years in emergency at Wagga Hospital.

Annette St Clair’s daughter Amie lost her battle with melanoma when she was just 23. In Amie’s honour, Annette is now dedicated to educating people in the Riverina about melanoma and supporting those impacted.

Annette currently works at a Medical Centre in Wagga 2 days per week, and as the Community Engagement Manager at MIA Amie St Clair for 3 days per week. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and ten pin bowling.

CONTACT:         Annette St Clair.      0448 255223         annette.stclair@melanoma.org.au

Website:            Amie St Clair Melanoma - Melanoma Institute Australia        















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