Health Behaviors, Surveillance, Psychosocial Factors, and Family Concerns
Health Behaviors, Surveillance, Psychosocial Factors, and Family Concerns
The purpose of this study is to examine the health behaviors of melanoma survivors. We want
 to know about their thoughts and concerns. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. The number of
 people being diagnosed with melanoma is growing. Many people who are diagnosed with melanoma
 are young. Little research has been done to find out how melanoma survivors feel years after
 they have been treated.
The rapidly rising incidence and mortality rates of melanoma, the most fatal form of skin
 cancer, are among the greatest increases of all preventable cancers over the past decade.
 However, because of recent advances in early detection, secondary prevention efforts, and
 treatment, the number of melanoma survivors is increasing. Little research has been conducted
 on melanoma survivors and important opportunities exist for research in this understudied
 population. Understanding recurrence and second primary cancer risk, cognitive
 characteristics, behaviors, surveillance patterns, economic sequelae, and family issues of
 melanoma survivors is imperative from a public health standpoint to promote the health and
 well-being of this cohort. The objectives of this study are to: 1) conduct focus groups to
 enhance our understanding of the behaviors of melanoma survivors, and 2) conduct a pilot
 survey study based on the results of the focus groups to further describe the behavioral and
 psychosocial issues in melanoma survivors. This will be among the first studies that explores
 behavioral and psychosocial issues in melanoma survivors. The study findings will inform a
 large-scale melanoma survivorship grant proposal to the National Cancer Institute or other
 federal/private sources of funding.
Inclusion Criteria:

 For the focus group recruitment (Specific Aim 1) - Patients with melanoma (invasive primary
 cutaneous melanoma, stages 1-III), who have been treated at MSKCC from 1996-2005

 For the survey group recruitment (Specific Aim 2):

 patients with melanoma (invasive primary cutaneous melanoma, stages 1-III), who have been
 treated at MSKCC from 2001-2011• Ability to sign informed consent which indicates the
 psychosocial, behavioral, epidemiological nature of this study

 • Age ≥ or = to 18 years and fluent in the English language

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with intraepithelial (in situ) melanoma

 -  Patients with stage IV melanoma

 -  Patients with nodal or visceral melanoma without a documented primary lesion

 -  Patients with prior malignancies For the focus group recruitment (Specific Aim
 1): (patients treated at MSKCC from 1996-2005) who have a diagnosis >10 years ago
 from treatment. For the survey group recruitment (Specific Aim 2): patients
 treated at MSKCC from 2001-2011)who have a diagnosis >10 years ago from
 treatment.

 -  Patients with a recent diagnosis of melanoma, <12 months

 -  Patients who are one year or more post diagnosis and are still receiving
 treatment for their melanoma