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Comparison of quality of life between melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer patients

  • Clinical Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

The impact of skin cancers on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is often overlooked, and direct comparisons between melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are rare.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare HRQoL in patients with melanoma and NMSC.

Materials and Methods

Participants were unselected, consecutive adult patients with a diagnosis of melanoma at the time of wide excision, or NMSC at the time of surgery. HRQoL was measured using the two scales of Skindex-17. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to identify patients with possible anxiety or depression.

Results

The study population included 433 patients: 65 with melanoma and 368 with NMSC. Skindex-17 symptom mean scores were higher in NMSC than in melanoma patients. Melanoma patients had significantly higher scores for the item “feeling depressed”. The percentage of GHQ-12 cases (with possible non-psychotic, minor psychiatric disorders) was significantly higher in patients with melanoma (32.8%) compared to NMSC patients (8.7%).

Conclusion

NMSC places a greater burden of symptoms on patients than melanoma, while the psychological impact of melanoma is higher.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Roma, Italy

    Francesca Sampogna, Maria Luisa Iemboli & Damiano Abeni

  2. Dermatology Unit, “Cristo Re” General Hospital, Roma, Italy

    Andrea Paradisi

  3. Melanoma Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Roma, Italy

    Francesco Ricci

  4. Day Surgery Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Roma, Italy

    Giulio Sonego

Authors
  1. Francesca Sampogna
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  2. Andrea Paradisi
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  3. Maria Luisa Iemboli
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  4. Francesco Ricci
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  5. Giulio Sonego
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  6. Damiano Abeni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesca Sampogna.

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Sampogna, F., Paradisi, A., Iemboli, M.L. et al. Comparison of quality of life between melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer patients. Eur J Dermatol 29, 185–191 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2019.3523

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2019.3523

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