Psychosocial characteristics of individuals with non-stage IV melanoma

Purpose: Melanoma is the fastest growing solid tumor among men and women an d accounts for 79% of skin cancer-related deaths. Research has identified t hat distress is frequently associated with a diagnosis of cancer and may sl ow treatment-seeking and recovery, increasing morbidity and even mortality through faster disease course. Given that the 5-year survival rates for ind ividuals with melanoma are determined primarily by the depth and extent of spread, distress that interferes with seeking treatment has the potential t o be life-threatening. Patients and Methods: The current study was designed to identify levels of distress present in individuals seeking treatment at a large, Midwestern, m ultidisciplinary melanoma clinic. It also focused on determining the qualit y of life, level of anxiety, and coping strategies used by individuals with melanoma before treatment. Given that the course of treatment and outcome for patients with stage IV disease is vastly different from that of patient s with stages I to III disease, they were excluded from the study. Results: Results indicated that most individuals who are presenting to a me lanoma clinic do not report a clinically significant level of distress. How ever, there is some variability in this, with 29% of patients reporting mod erate to high levels of distress. Moreover, analyses suggest that distresse d individuals are more likely to use maladaptive coping strategies, such as escape-avoidance coping, and to have poorer quality of life. Conclusion: Although most individuals do not present with significant level s of distress, a significant minority are distressed and rely more heavily on coping strategies that do not benefit them. Such individuals would likel y benefit most from psychological intervention.