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SUMMARY
Skin cancer diagnosis and treatment can be distressful, particularly for patients diagnosed with melanoma.
Although nonmelanoma skin cancers are not life-threatening in most cases, certain patients may experience elevated distress and need supportive psychological care.
Stress can be a trigger for skin cancer or a consequence of skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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DON’T FORGET
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CLINICAL PEARLS
Cutaneous neoplasms often occur in exposed areas such as the head and neck, and the visible scars have been associated with quality of life impairment, anxiety, and depression.
The presence of psychological distress has a negative impact on cancer patients’ quality of life, and it also can influence the course of the disease, slowing the recovery process and increasing morbidity.
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PATIENT EDUCATION POINTS
The cutaneous oncology multidisciplinary team includes dermatologists, surgical oncologists, nurses, pathologists, psychologists, psychodermatologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, radiation oncologists, and psychiatrists who work collaboratively with patients and family members when necessary.
Team management of patients with skin cancer results in better care, improvement in the quality of life, and coping skills.
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Skin cancers are the most common type of cancer and the only ones that are visible to the patient in their early stages. A skin cancer diagnosis and treatment can be distressful, particularly for patients diagnosed with melanoma.1 Approximately 30% of all patients with melanoma report levels of psychological distress, indicating the need for clinical interventions.2 Fear of the prognosis, fear of death, and the attitude of the doctor who diagnosed the melanoma are significant factors contributing to anxiety.3 Cutaneous neoplasms often occur in exposed areas such as the head and neck, and the visible scars have been associated with quality of life impairment, anxiety, and depression.4
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Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common types of cancer and are classified under the umbrella of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Despite NMSC not being life-threatening in most cases, certain patients may experience elevated distress needing supportive psychological care.5 NMSC can severely impair quality of life (QOL). Gaulin et al explain that “the impact posed may arise from the tumor itself or as a result of treatment, and through symptoms, functional limitations, cosmetic burden and auxiliary considerations such as cost and disturbance to the activities of daily living.”6 Fear of developing new cancers and guilt for not preventing them are also symptoms that may lead to anxiety and depression.
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This chapter aims to address the relationship between stress and skin cancers. Stress can be a trigger of skin cancers or a consequence of skin cancer diagnosis and treatment. We will also discuss the role of the multidisciplinary team in cutaneous ...