Lavinia Spain is an oncologist who works at St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne in Fitzroy, VIC. She looks after people who are dealing with cancer, from new diagnoses to more complex cases where the illness has spread. She also supports patients with other tough health problems, like inflammation in the bowel and ongoing infection-related issues, where careful medical care matters.
In day-to-day work, Dr Spain’s focus includes melanoma and lung cancer, as well as prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). She also treats people with metastatic brain tumours, which can be very stressful and full-on. Over time, she helps patients and families understand what’s happening, what the next steps are, and how treatment can affect day-to-day life.
Alongside cancer care, she treats some non-cancer conditions that can bring people into hospital or make them feel quite unwell. This can include problems like colitis and diarrhoea, and infections that affect different parts of the body, such as hepatitis and certain viral illnesses. At times, patients need support for symptoms like swelling and skin infection, or brain inflammation linked to viruses.
Dr Spain’s training in oncology guides her approach. She aims to keep decisions clear and practical, using the latest treatment options that fit the person, not just the diagnosis. Treatment can be a mix of medicines and other care, and each plan needs to be tailored. In many cases, clinical trials can also be part of the conversation, depending on what’s available and what suits the patient best.
