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.