Jackie Hodgetts, Clinical Lead Spotlight

Welcome to our Clinical Lead Spotlight series, where we share key insights from the clinical leads behind our education, exploring the current landscape across key cancer specialties and the expertise shaping our programmes.

Introducing Jackie Hodgetts, Advanced Practitioner in Melanoma at The Christie.

Jackie has worked at The Christie for 38 years, beginning her career as a research nurse in lung cancer. During this time, she developed a specialist interest in melanoma, when patient numbers were small and treatment options were limited.

After completing her MSc in Advanced Practice in 2007, Jackie specialised in melanoma care. Since then, she has seen the treatment landscape change significantly, with major advances improving outcomes for patients.

Today, Jackie cares for patients at high risk of recurrence, as well as those with stage 4 disease. supporting them from their first consultation through treatment, response assessment and the management of side effects.

What drew you to focus on melanoma skin cancer and what continues to motivate your work in this field?

Melanoma is a very interesting cancer. It is unpredictable in its progress and up until recently was very resistant to conventional therapies.

More recently, however, the treatment landscape has changed beyond recognition, and the prognosis has changed from a predicted survival of 6 months for stage 4 to potential cure for many patients. It has been an exciting time, and it’s good to be able to give patients good news. 

There is still a long way to go however, but when I see things that are happening in the lab and early phase studies, hopefully we will be able to help more patients in the future. It has been challenging to learn about the potential side effects and how best to manage them, but I have found this an interesting and rewarding part of my work.

What key developments are currently shaping the treatment and support of patients with melanoma?

Immunotherapy has been a game changer for melanoma patients.  Targeted therapies have become an important part of melanoma care, offering highly effective treatment options for some patients.

The challenge now is understanding why not everyone responds to immunotherapy, and why some tumours become resistant to targeted therapy over time. As many more patients are surviving long term, we need to focus on late effects of treatment and helping people return to their lives following treatment.

What role can healthcare professionals play in supporting prevention and early detection of melanoma?

Educating the population of the dangers of UV exposure, particularly the use of sunbeds and tanning, particularly young people. Advising beauty professionals and hairdressers how to recognise a potential melanoma. Educating people to recognise abnormal changes to their skin and to seek advice early. Ensuring that people recognise that melanoma isn’t ‘just skin cancer’ but a serious condition that can be life threatening.

This can be done by speaking to young people in school and colleges. Poster campaigns, and things like melanoma awareness month.

What does effective patient-centred care look like for someone diagnosed with melanoma?

There are a number of treatments available for melanoma, and some are more suitable than others for individual patients. Having honest, informative conversations about the possible benefits and potential side effects of various treatments and coming to joint decisions when patients have all the information. Ensuring that all their needs and concerns are explored and making sure they have all the help they need to get them through their treatment.

This involves all the team from clinicians, specialist nurses, care co- coordinators, social workers and community teams. Sometimes supportive care teams may be involved to manage symptoms or side effects of treatment.

What do you hope attendees will gain from our upcoming Melanoma Study Day on Friday 20 November 2026?

I would hope attendees will gain a better understanding of melanoma, the new developments in treatment, toxicity management and the psychological impact of melanoma, particularly from a patient’s perspective.

Additionally, what the future holds in terms of innovation and clinical trials.