Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Quality of Life During Treatment for Cervicofacial Non-melanoma Skin Cancer

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), despite its low mortality, can impose a significant psychological burden on patients. The aim of the present study is to examine the evolution of the quality of life (QOL) in patients with cervicofacial NMSC during treatment. This prospective cohort study was conducted to a group of patients with cervicofacial NMSC, confirmed by skin biopsy. These patients completed the Skin Cancer Index questionnaire at the time of diagnosis and at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after treatment began. Data for these patients’ demographic characteristics and variables related to the type of tumour, the treatment received and the evolution of the condition were recorded. The study group was composed of 220 patients. At the time of diagnosis, the overall mean score for QOL was 54.1 (SD 21.9); for the social appearance component, it was 76.7 (SD 26.2), and for the emotional component, it was 23 (SD 25.1). Six months after treatment began, the overall mean score was 61 (SD19.1), that for social appearance, 85 (SD 20.6), and that for the emotional component, 27.4 (SD 26.6). All the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results obtained show that during the treatment period, it is at the time of diagnosis when patients with cervicofacial NMSC undergo the greatest deterioration in their QOL. In comparison with the findings obtained in previous studies, our population obtained lower overall scores in the questionnaires and less improvement during follow-up.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lomas A, Leonardi-Bee J, Bath-Hextall F (2012) A systematic review of worldwide incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Br J Dermatol 166:1069–1080. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10830.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Leiter U, Eigentler T, Garbe C (2014) Epidemiology of skin cancer. Adv Exp Med Biol 810:120–140

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Burton KA, Ashack KA, Khachemoune A (2016) Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a review of high-risk and metastatic disease. Am J Clin Dermatol 17(5):491–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Fahradyan A, Howell AC, Wolfswinkel EM, Tsuha M, Sheth P, Wong AK (2017) Updates on the management of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Healthcare (Basel) 5(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare5040082

  5. Barton V, Armeson K, Hampras S, Ferris LK, Visvanathan K, Rollison D, Alberg AJ (2017) Nonmelanoma skin cancer and risk of all-cause and cancer-related mortality: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol Res 309(4):243–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1724-5

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Roberts N, Czajkowska Z, Radiotis G, Körner A (2013) Distress and coping strategies among patients with skin cancer. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 20(2):209–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yoon J, Phibbs CS, Chow A, Pomerantz H, Weinstock MA (2016) Costs of keratinocyte carcinoma (nonmelanoma skin cancer) and actinic keratosis treatment in the Veterans Health Administration. Dermatol Surg 42(9):1041–1047. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000000820

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Madan V, Lear JT, Szeimies RM (2010) Non-melanoma skin cancer. Lancet 375(9715):673–685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. de Troya-Martín M, Rivas-Ruiz F, Blázquez-Sánchez N, Fernández-Canedo I, Aguilar-Bernier M, Repiso-Jiménez JB, Toribio-Montero JC, Jones-Caballero M, Rhee J (2015) A Spanish version of the Skin Cancer Index: a questionnaire for measuring quality of life in patients with cervicofacial nonmelanoma skin cancer. Br J Dermatol 172(1):160–168. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.13173

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Rhee JS, Matthews BA, Neuburg M, Burzynski M, Nattinger AB (2005) Creation of a quality of life instrument for nonmelanoma skin cancer patients. Laryngoscope. 115:1178–1185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Baryza MJ, Baryza GA (1995) The Vancouver Scar Scale: an administration tool and its interrater reliability. J Burn Care Rehabil 16(5):535–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Burdon-Jones D, Thomas P, Baker R (2010) Quality of life issues in nonmetastatic skin cancer. Br J Dermatol 162(1):147–151. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09469.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gaulin C, Sebaratnam DF, Fernández-Peñas P (2015) Quality of life in non-melanoma skin cancer. Australas J Dermatol 56(1):70–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajd.12205

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chernyshov PV, Lallas A, Tomas-Aragones L, Arenbergerova M, Samimi M, Manolache L, Svensson A, Marron SE, Sampogna F, Spillekom-vanKoulil S, Bewley A, Forsea AM, Jemec GB, Szepietowski JC, Augustin M, Finlay AY (2019) Quality of life measurement in skin cancer patients: literature review and position paper of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Forces on Quality of Life and Patient Oriented Outcomes, Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 33(5):816–827. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15487

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lee EH, Klassen AF, Nehal KS, Cano SJ, Waters J, Pusic AL (2013) A systematic review of patient-reported outcome instruments of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the dermatologic population. J Am Acad Dermatol 69(2):e59–e67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.09.017

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Dobbs TD, Samarendra H, Hughes S, Hutchings HA, Whitaker I (2019) Patient-reported outcome measures for facial skin cancer: a systematic review and evaluation of the quality of their measurement properties. Br J Dermatol 180(5):1018–1029. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17342

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rhee JS, Matthews BA, Neuburg M, Logan BR, Burzynski M, Nattinger AB (2007) The skin cancer index: clinical responsiveness and predictors of quality of life. Laryngoscope. 117(3):399–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Caddick J, Stephenson J, Green L, Spyrou G (2013) Psychological outcomes following surgical excision of facial skin cancers. Eur J Plast Surg 36(2):75–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. de Troya-Martín M, Rivas-Ruiz F, Blázquez-Sánchez N, Fernández-Canedo I, Aguilar-Bernier M, Repiso-Jiménez JB, Toribio-Montero JC, Jones-Caballero M, Rhee J (2016) Responsiveness of the Spanish version of the “Skin Cancer Index”. J Skin Cancer 2016:8180348

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Vrinten C, McGregor LM, Heinrich M, von Wagner C, Waller J, Wardle J, Black GB (2017) What do people fear about cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of cancer fears in the general population. Psychooncology. 26(8):1070–1079. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4287

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Fernandez Lobato RC, Soria-Aledo V, Jover Navalón JM, Calvo Vecino JM, Grupo de trabajo de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos (AEC) (2015) National survey on patient’s fears before a general surgery procedure. Cir Esp 93(10):643–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ciresp.2014.09.009

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Derksen F, Bensing J, Lagro-Janssen A (2013) Effectiveness of empathy in general practice: a systematic review. Br J Gen Pract 63(606):e76–e84. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X660814

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Nagler RH, Romantan A, Kelly BJ, Stevens RS, Gray SW, Hull SJ, Ramirez AS, Hornik RC (2010) How do cancer patients navigate the public information environment? Understanding patterns and motivations for movement among information sources. J Cancer Educ 25(3):360–370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0054-5

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Tan SS, Goonawardene N (2017) Internet health information seeking and the patient-physician relationship: a systematic review. J Med Internet Res 19(1):e9. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.5729

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Bellani ML (2008) Psychological aspects in day-case surgery. Int J Surg 6(Suppl 1):S44–S46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2008.12.019

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Jones M, Fernández-Peñas P, Miguélez R, García-Morrás P, García-Cantero RM (2005) Subjective perception of pain in local dermatological surgery. Actas Dermosifiliogr 96(3):147–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-7310(05)73056-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Beqqal K, Debie J, Constantin S, Chau E, Burnouf M, Stephanazzi J, Dupin N, Avril MF (2010) Evaluation of local anesthesia and pain control in dermatological surgery: a prospective study of 120 patients. Eur J Dermatol 20(3):349–353. https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2010.0925

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the research team at the Costa del Sol Hospital for their support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Department, Hospital Costa del Sol, Autovía A7-Km 187, Marbella, Málaga, Spain

    Pablo García-Montero, Nuria Blázquez-Sánchez, José Francisco Millán-Cayetano, Cristina García-Harana & Magdalena de Troya Martín

  2. University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain

    Pablo García-Montero, María Victoria de Gálvez-Aranda & Cristina García-Harana

  3. Research Unit, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Spain

    Francisco Rivas-Ruíz

  4. Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain

    Francisco Rivas-Ruíz

Authors
  1. Pablo García-Montero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. María Victoria de Gálvez-Aranda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nuria Blázquez-Sánchez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Francisco Rivas-Ruíz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. José Francisco Millán-Cayetano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Cristina García-Harana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Magdalena de Troya Martín
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pablo García-Montero.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Issues

The study was approved by the Costa del Sol Hospital Research Ethics Committee in September 2015 (IRB 011_Sep_PI_CANCER CUTANEO NO MELANOMA CALIDAD DE VIDA). All completed questionnaires were recorded anonymously, in strict accordance with the data protection legislation in force at the time of the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

García-Montero, P., de Gálvez-Aranda, M.V., Blázquez-Sánchez, N. et al. Quality of Life During Treatment for Cervicofacial Non-melanoma Skin Cancer. J Canc Educ 37, 196–202 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01781-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01781-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation