Impact of Melanoma on Patients' Lives Among 562 Survivors

Abstract

To assess the impact of melanoma on the health-related quality of life of patients from the general population up to 10 years after diagnosis and its determinants.Design: A cross-sectional Dutch population-based postal survey among patients with melanoma for the years 1998 to 2008 using the Eindhoven Cancer Registry. Main Outcome Measures:The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Impact of Cancer (IOC) questionnaire and specific melanoma-related questions. The SF-36 scores of the cases were compared with normative data. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify associated factors of SF-36 and IOC scores.Results: The response rate was 80%. The mean age of the 562 respondents was 57.3 years; 62% were female, and 76% had a melanoma with a Breslow thickness of less than 2 mm. The SF-36 component scores of pa-tients with melanoma were similar to those of the normative population. In a multiple linear regression model, stage at diagnosis, female sex, age, and comorbidity were significantly associated (PϽ .05) with the physical and mental component scores. Women were significantly more likely to report higher levels of both positive and negative IOC. Time since diagnosis, tumor stage, and comorbidity were significant predictors of negative IOC scores. Women seemed to adjust their sun behavior more often (54% vs 67%; P Ͻ.001) than men and were more worried about the deleterious effects of UV radiation (45% vs 66%; PϽ .001). Conclusion:The impact of melanoma seems to be specific and more substantial in women, suggesting that they may need additional care to cope with their melanoma optimally.

Melanoma burden by melanoma stage: Assessment through a disease transition model

“…Following the results of two previous studies [23,24], we assumed stage 0eII patients who did not relapse to have an impaired melanoma-associated HRQoL for 2 years only. Despite this, the large proportion of patients with localised melanomas who will never relapse accounted for 34.8% of the YLDs.…”

“…Each DW was applicable for a given period of treatment or remission. According to the previous studies [23,24], stage 0eII patients were assumed to have an HRQoL equal to that of the normal population, from 2 years following diagnosis until recurrence or death. The DWs used are presented in Table 1.…”

Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress, and Fear of Cancer Progression in Patients with Melanoma in Cancer Aftercare

“…Several studies have focused on health-related quality of life (QoL) and mental distress in these patients. The results of these studies are not congruent: Some studies reported that the QoL is similar in both normal population samples and melanoma patients [3,4]; others reported increased mental distress in melanoma patients. Cornish et al [5], in a review of 13 studies of QoL, as well as Kasparian et al [6] and Trask et al [7] showed that about one third of the patients presented clinically relevant distress.…”

Red meat and fruit intake is prognostic among patients with localized cutaneous melanomas more than 1mm thick

“…Yet, due to the morbidity associated with approved interferon-based adjuvant therapy, active surveillance is the recommended standard-of-care for the majority of these patients with active treatments commencing only after metastatic disease is confirmed [2]. Consequently, “fear of recurrence”, a spectrum of symptoms that range from mild depression and irritability to debilitating anxiety manifested during the follow-up period [3], is highly prevalent among melanoma survivors [4–6]. …”

“…Nonetheless, the study of modifiable lifestyle factors with respect to melanoma prognosis is still sparse and has largely been restricted towards describing patterns of post-diagnosis ultraviolet light (UV) exposure and the associated risk of developing second primary melanomas [6, 16–19]. Even fewer published studies describe the association between modifiable lifestyle factors and recurrence of the index melanoma.…”