Abstract
Background: Malignant melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer and its incidence has been increasing worldwide. The prognosis of the disease is dependent on many factors.
There has been no reliable adjuvant treatment available so far; although cytokines have been recently administered to high-risk patients. Emphasis is therefore put mainly on the timely detection and the relevant extent of surgical intervention, the degree of which depends on the stage of the disease.
The result of this is the need for the early diagnosis of new cases and permanent follow-up of the patients in whom melanoma has been already confirmed. Patients in follow-up care are regularly checked, for the rest of their lives, at so-called melanoma commissions, usually at dermatological clinics.
The permanent contact with the facts about the possible presence of the disease (being informed of the diagnosis, repeated follow-ups, waiting for the results of the examination) is stressful for these patients, although they become, to a certain extent, gradually adapted to stress. Methods: The present cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a group of patients diagnosed with stage I and II malignant melanoma (n = 124) followed for at least one year.
The research was carried out in a form of anonymous questionnaires which included various types of questions concerning prevention and the current attitude of respondents toward solar radiation, the patients' awareness of the disease and their cooperation with the health centre (institution). Attached in the appendix, there are also the PSSS questionnaire (the level of social support), Z.
A. S. (Load and Stress) and BSSD (Beck's depression questionnaire).
Results and conclusion: The results obtained revealed that the group of patients addressed shows a good management of the disease. The respondents welcome the opportunity of dispensary (follow-up) care and its benefit outweighs the load represented by the repeated controls.
The values of social support were slightly above-average and the results of the Z.A.S. scale (scale "load and stress") suggested that the stressor exposure probably is not immoderate or the respondents learned how to cope with it.