How Do Melanoma Survivors and Their Partners Feel About Skin Self-Examination?

Source: Oncology Nurse Advisor , October 2019

The impact of partner support and comfort level in assisting melanoma survivors with skin self-examination may be perceived differently by melanoma survivors and their partners, according to results of a study published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.

Previous research has shown that the risk of a new primary melanoma lesion is increased in survivors of the disease compared with the general population. In addition, melanoma survivors are at risk of disease recurrence. Hence, increased vigilance to facilitate early identification of potential melanoma lesions through regular skin self-examination is particularly important in this patient group.

Evidence shows that prognosis is worse for patients with melanomas on parts of the body that are difficult to assess on skin self-examination, such as the scalp, back, the dorsal side of the thighs, and genitals. However, prior studies demonstrated that involving melanoma survivors’ partners in education about skin self-examination had a positive impact on the likelihood that survivors will perform the procedure, as well as their perception that they were able to appropriately do so.