Patients Take More Precautions After Skin Cancer Surgery

Patients who have had skin cancers surgically removed experience little change in quality of life, but are more likely to use sun screen, wear hats, and avoid the sun after their surgeries than they were before, according to an article published in The Archives of Otolaryngology.

John S. Rhee, M.D., M.P.H., of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and colleagues investigated whether the quality of life of skin cancer patients changed after undergoing surgery to remove nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). The researchers also studied whether patients' sun-protective behavior (wearing hats and sunscreen, avoiding the sun) and other risky behavior like smoking, changed after surgery.

The researchers assessed the quality of life and smoking habits of 121 patients referred to a dermatology clinic for NMSC of the head and neck. Patients were surveyed again about their quality of life, sun-protective behavior and smoking habits at one month (n=105) and four months (n=101) after their surgeries.

Overall, patients’ general quality of life showed little change after surgery, the researchers write, but mental and emotional health improved significantly. The researchers also found that many patients started using sunscreen, wearing hats and adopted other sun-protective behaviors after their surgeries, but smoking habits did not change.

The percentage of patients who practiced various sun-protective behaviors before, and one month after their surgeries was as follows:

• sunscreen use – 49 percent before, 72 percent after;
• wearing hats when outside – 67 percent before, 74 percent after;
• avoiding the sun – 20 percent before, 44 percent after.

“Use of sun-protective behaviors increases after treatment,” write the authors. “General quality of life instruments demonstrate little change following treatment of NMSC. Although the associations are modest, improvements in emotional and mental health well-being following treatment of NMSC were demonstrated, especially for those younger than 65 years and employed.”

SOURCE:
The Archives of Otolaryngology, February 2004

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