Psychological impact of BRAF mutational status in advanced melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to highlight the psychological aspects involved in patients with advanced melanoma and to describe the differences between subjects who are positive and negative for the BRAFv600e genetic mutation, a variable that leads to a different medical approach to cancer therapy. The hypothesis is that following knowledge of the genetic mutation and the therapeutic possibilities inherent to it, mutation positive patients (BRAF+) exhibit fewer negative psychological reactions than negative patients (BRAF-) at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: The tests used (SF-12, MHQ) were administered at the time of diagnosis and after three months. RESULTS: The main findings suggest a greater impairment of quality of life at T1 than at T0, regardless of the mutation; BRAF mutated patients show more favorable scores at diagnosis and a reversal of the trend at three months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained, in line with the literature under review, show a significant general psychological distress in the present oncological sample, suggesting the importance of a psychological, as well as medical, care of the patient and the family.

Melanoma diagnosis: traumatic impact of the event on the patient.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to consider the distressing impact of the diagnosis in a group of patients with metastatic melanoma, and the effects it could have on the quality of life of the patients. METHODS: We proposed an Impact Event Scale (IES-R) to a group of 31 patients. The patients were positive to the distress thermometer (DS) and accepted the psychological support. After six months from the start of the treatment we made a semi-structured interview of 10 multiple choice questions. RESULTS: Sixty-five per cent of women and 50% of men report that all the event related to the disease, cause emotions that recall the disease. Eighty-two per cent of women compared to 50% of men, report that the thought of their medical condition tends to affect their quality of sleep; the patients report feelings of anger and irritation (41% of the women and 78% of the men). CONCLUSIONS: The traumatic aspects following the diagnosis of melanoma burst powerfully into the life of these patients, who show different reactions, also according to gender.

Body image and awareness in patients with advanced-stage melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Body image (BI) is a very important aspect to be taken care of, especially in cancer patients. METHODS: We administered the Body Image Scales, with a specifically created semi-structured questionnaire which includes items that investigate the level of awareness and the degree of acceptance of the disease of the patient, was administered to patients giving their written informed consent to participate to the study. RESULTS: The results show that our population sample got an average score of 17.25 showing precisely problems related to body image. CONCLUSIONS: An adequate psychological support is crucial, as it has been widely demonstrated that body-image-related issues have a negative impact on patients' quality of life, especially in the oncology field. Such support has the aim of dealing with those aspects which can compromise the patients' equilibrium and quality of life.