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Comparison of quality of life among long-term melanoma survivors and non-melanoma controls: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about specific concerns facing long-term melanoma survivors. The goal of this study was to compare quality of life (QOL) and mental health between long-term melanoma survivors and population controls.

Methods

Participants from a previously conducted case-control study of risk factors for melanoma were recruited for a cross-sectional survey. Generic QOL and emotional health were measured using the SF-36 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires. A total of 724 melanoma survivors and 660 controls participated. Most melanoma survivors had stage I disease (85.6%); mean time from diagnosis was 9.6 ± 1.0 years. Comparisons of QOL measures between melanoma survivors and controls were conducted using regression models, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Melanoma survivors, compared to controls, reported statistically significant but only slightly higher physical functioning and bodily pain QOL subscale scores than controls and otherwise similar QOL as measured by the remaining six SF-36 subscale scores. Prevalence of anxiety (18.1% vs. 19.3%, adjusted OR = 1.00 (0.74, 1.36); p = 1.00) and depression (7.2% vs. 9.8%, adjusted OR = 0.74 (0.48, 1.16); p = 1.00) were similar between melanoma survivors and controls.

Conclusion

Long-term early stage melanoma survivors report similar general QOL and mental health compared to population controls. Further research is needed to identify concerns more specific to melanoma.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota and National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute Grant P30CA077598 and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences award UL1TR000114. The Masonic Cancer Center Women’s Health Scholar award is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, a comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute, and administrated by the University of Minnesota Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 395, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Rachel Isaksson Vogel

  2. Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Rachel Isaksson Vogel, Lori G. Strayer, Heather H. Nelson, Anne H. Blaes, Kristin E. Anderson & DeAnn Lazovich

  3. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Leah Engelman, Heather H. Nelson, Kristin E. Anderson & DeAnn Lazovich

  4. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Anne H. Blaes

Authors
  1. Rachel Isaksson Vogel
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  2. Lori G. Strayer
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  3. Leah Engelman
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  4. Heather H. Nelson
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  5. Anne H. Blaes
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  6. Kristin E. Anderson
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  7. DeAnn Lazovich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel Isaksson Vogel.

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Conflict of interest

Author Rachel Isaksson Vogel declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Lori Strayer declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Leah Engelman declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Heather H. Nelson declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Anne H. Blaes declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Kristin E. Anderson declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author DeAnn Lazovich declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Vogel, R.I., Strayer, L.G., Engelman, L. et al. Comparison of quality of life among long-term melanoma survivors and non-melanoma controls: a cross-sectional study. Qual Life Res 26, 1761–1766 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1532-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1532-6

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