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Open Access 01-01-2019 | Original Article

Patient-reported treatment-related symptom burden for patients with advanced melanoma in Canada

Authors: Winson Y. Cheung, Michelle K. White, Martha S. Bayliss, Angela Stroupe, Andrew Lovley, Bellinda L. King-Kallimanis, Kathryn Lasch

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

Little is known on the impact of emerging treatments for advanced melanoma (stages III and IV) on patients’ functioning and well-being. The objective of this study was to describe the patient-reported treatment-related symptom (TRS) burden in advanced melanoma.

Method

Twenty-nine in-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted among adult patients with advanced melanoma in Canada using a semi-structured interview method. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and key concepts were identified using a grounded theory analytic approach.

Results

The 29 patients reported 13 unique treatment journeys involving the following drug therapy categories: cytotoxic chemotherapies, CTLA-4 inhibitors, BRAF or MEK inhibitors, and PD-1 inhibitors. Patients typically underwent multiple treatment episodes over time. Common TRSs included nausea, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, and skin rashes. Patients described these as impacting their physical functioning, ability to perform activities of daily living, social functioning, and overall quality of life.

Conclusion

Our findings provide a description of the patient’s experience with treatment for advanced melanoma. Our sample included patients typically diagnosed in mid-life, facing an urgent sequence of medical procedures and a pharmacological treatment journey that was burdensome. There is a need for less toxic and more efficacious treatments earlier in the patient journey to alleviate the impact of advanced melanoma treatment on patients’ health-related quality of life.

One patient had described use of DTIC on the demographic and health information form, but did not confirm or describe it during the interview.

Note that we are reporting the patients’ statements about treatment effectiveness, not clinical observations about disease progression.

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Title: Patient-reported treatment-related symptom burden for patients with advanced melanoma in Canada
Authors: Winson Y. Cheung
Michelle K. White
Martha S. Bayliss
Angela Stroupe
Andrew Lovley
Bellinda L. King-Kallimanis
Kathryn Lasch
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4316-9

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