Appearance-related needs and challenges among cancer patients undergoing systemic therapy: a comprehensive survey study.

Abstract

Purpose: Recent improvements in cancer prognosis have highlighted the need for patients to balance social interactions with their therapeutic regimens. Central to this balance is managing the physical changes induced by cancer treatments. This study aimed to examine patients' reactions to these changes and to identify their needs related to appearance care.

Methods: We conducted a survey among 800 patients undergoing systemic therapy to investigate the actual impact of changes and to determine the specific care needs across 45 appearance-related items. The survey using the original questionnaire was an online self-reported.

Results: Of the surveyed patients, 202 responded. The median age was 58 years (ranging from 30 to 81), comprising 144 women and 58 men. Hair loss was experienced by 157 (78%) patients, with 109 (70%) of them purchasing wigs. The demand for information and consultation was highest for alopecia, reported by over 60% of respondents, followed by needs related to skin care and wigs. In addition, 26 items had unmet needs affecting more than 50% of the participants, with 24 of these items pursued by fewer than half of the patients. In female patients who experienced hair loss, patients with breast cancer more frequently sought information and consultation and had higher levels of unmet needs compared with those with non-breast cancer.

Conclusions: The findings underscore the substantial and diverse appearance-related needs among cancer patients, with many experiencing significant unmet needs. These results suggest that comprehensive support systems are essential to address the varied and individualized needs of patients undergoing contemporary cancer treatments.