TY - JOUR

T1 - Health-related quality of life in melanoma patients

T2 - Impact of melanoma-related limb lymphoedema

AU - Gjorup, Caroline A.

AU - Groenvold, Mogens

AU - Hendel, Helle W.

AU - Dahlstroem, Karin

AU - Drzewiecki, Krzysztof T.

AU - Klausen, Tobias W.

AU - Hölmich, Lisbet R.

N1 - Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - AIM: To explore health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in recurrence-free melanoma patients, with a focus on the association between melanoma-related limb lymphoedema and HRQoL.METHODS: HRQoL was evaluated using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-BR23) subscales body image and future perspective, the Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-General subscale social/family well-being and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data were analysed using linear and ordinal logistic regression adjusting for age and gender.RESULTS: A total of 431 melanoma patients who had undergone wide local excision and axillary or inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and/or complete lymph node dissection (CLND) participated. No patients had had recurrence of the disease or had received adjuvant radiotherapy. The HRQoL scores improved with time after surgery. Melanoma-related limb lymphoedema was present in 109 patients (25%). Patients with lymphoedema had significantly worse HRQoL scores in the EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales global health status/quality of life, role and social functioning, fatigue, pain and financial difficulties, as well as in the QLQ-BR23 body image subscale. No associations were found between the limb affected (upper or lower limb), clinical stage of lymphoedema, duration of lymphoedema or type of surgery (SLNB or CLND) and HRQoL. We found an interaction with age and gender in the associations between lymphoedema and HRQoL: younger patients and women with lymphoedema had worse social functioning and women had significantly more impaired body image.CONCLUSIONS: The negative impact of melanoma-related limb lymphoedema on HRQoL emphasises the importance of developing strategies for increasing awareness and improving prevention and treatment of lymphoedema.

AB - AIM: To explore health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in recurrence-free melanoma patients, with a focus on the association between melanoma-related limb lymphoedema and HRQoL.METHODS: HRQoL was evaluated using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-BR23) subscales body image and future perspective, the Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-General subscale social/family well-being and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data were analysed using linear and ordinal logistic regression adjusting for age and gender.RESULTS: A total of 431 melanoma patients who had undergone wide local excision and axillary or inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and/or complete lymph node dissection (CLND) participated. No patients had had recurrence of the disease or had received adjuvant radiotherapy. The HRQoL scores improved with time after surgery. Melanoma-related limb lymphoedema was present in 109 patients (25%). Patients with lymphoedema had significantly worse HRQoL scores in the EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales global health status/quality of life, role and social functioning, fatigue, pain and financial difficulties, as well as in the QLQ-BR23 body image subscale. No associations were found between the limb affected (upper or lower limb), clinical stage of lymphoedema, duration of lymphoedema or type of surgery (SLNB or CLND) and HRQoL. We found an interaction with age and gender in the associations between lymphoedema and HRQoL: younger patients and women with lymphoedema had worse social functioning and women had significantly more impaired body image.CONCLUSIONS: The negative impact of melanoma-related limb lymphoedema on HRQoL emphasises the importance of developing strategies for increasing awareness and improving prevention and treatment of lymphoedema.

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Aged

KW - Chi-Square Distribution

KW - Cost of Illness

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Linear Models

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Lymph Node Excision

KW - Lymphedema

KW - Male

KW - Melanoma

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Odds Ratio

KW - Prevalence

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

KW - Sex Factors

KW - Skin Neoplasms

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Treatment Outcome

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.07.052

DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.07.052

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28918186

VL - 85

SP - 122

EP - 132

JO - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

JF - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

SN - 0959-8049

ER -