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Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2019 Jun 12
DOI: 10.23736/S0392-0488.19.06348-X
Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
language: English
Melanoma diagnosis: traumatic impact of the event on the patient
Eleonora CAMPOLMI 1, 2 ✉, Margherita RICCIO 1, 2, Bernardo CARLI 1, 2, Giovanni BACCI 3, Maria S. PINO 2, 4, Sara FORTUNATO 1, 2, Susanna GUNNELLA 1, 2, Luisa FIORETTO 2, 4, Lorenzo BORGOGNONI 2, 5, Nicola PIMPINELLI 1, 2
1 Division Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 2 Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Tuscany Centre Health District, Florence Italy; 3 Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy; 4 Department of Oncology, Medical Oncology Unit, S. Maria Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy; 5 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, S. Maria Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy
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 a 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: Sixtyfive (65) % women and 50% men report that all the event related to the disease, cause emotions that recall the disease. Eightytwo (82) % women, compared to 50% 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.
KEY WORDS: Melanoma - Psychological support - Quality of life - Cancer