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Background: New advanced melanoma therapies are associated with improved survival; however, quality of survivorship, particularly psychosocial outcomes, for patients overall and those treated with newer therapies is unclear.Objective: Synthesize qualitative and quantitative evidence about psychosocial outcomes for advanced (stage III/IV) melanoma patients.Methods: Five databases were searched (01/01/1980 to 31/01/2016). Inclusion criteria were as follows: advanced melanoma patients or sub-group analysis; assessed psychosocial outcomes; and English language.Results: Fifty-two studies met review criteria (4 qualitative, 48 quantitative). Trials comprise mostly medical not psychosocial interventions, with psychosocial outcomes assessed within broader quality of life measures. Patients receiving chemotherapy or IFN-alpha showed decreased emotional and social function and increased distress. Five trials of newer therapies appeared to show improvements in emotional and social function. Descriptive studies suggest that patients with advanced, versus localized disease, had decreased emotional and social function and increased distress. Contributors to distress were largely unexplored, and no clear framework described coping/adjustment trajectories. Patients with advanced versus localized disease had more supportive care needs, particularly amount, quality, and timing of melanoma-related information, communication with and emotional support from clinicians. Limitations included: lack of theoretical underpinnings guiding study design; inconsistent measurement approaches; small sample sizes; non-representative sampling; and cross-sectional design.Conclusions: Quality trial evidence is needed to clarify the impact of treatment innovations for advanced melanoma on patients' psychosocial well-being. Survivorship research and subsequent translation of that knowledge into programs and services currently lags behind gains in the medical treatment of advanced melanoma, a troubling circumstance that requires immediate and focused attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report data from representatives of national professional psycho-oncology societies on the integration of psychosocial care into national cancer programmes or cancer plans. To date information on how, or whether, psychosocial care has been recognized and integrated into comprehensive cancer care internationally has been extremely limited. The value of the current survey, whilst not comprehensive, lies with the fact that it is the first to report on the current status of psychosocial care for cancer patients and their families from a global perspective. Representatives of 29 countries that are members of the Federation of National Psycho-Oncology Societies, coordinated under the aegis of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), participated in a survey aimed at clarifying access to psychosocial care. Results indicate that while psychosocial oncology has grown over the last decade, it is either not established or not completely established, or not an integral part of care in some countries, especially developing countries, where basic care is sometimes not provided to cancer patients. Future targets need to focus on the integration of psychosocial oncology programmes into comprehensive cancer care and their coordination within multidisciplinary teams. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reflect on the development of International Standard of Quality of Quality Cancer Care by International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS). The authors cite the development of clinical practice guidelines of psycho-oncology in various countries for psychosocial cancer care. Meanwhile, IPOS International Standard of Quality Care was introduced in October 2010. The authors stress that IPOS provided an accurate quality standard of care for cancer patients at an international level.

The article presents a study which examines the prevalence and predictors for the emotional and behavioral problems in children of parents diagnosed with cancer. Participants of the study comprised ill parents, healthy partners and children. Psychological function of children is assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. Results revealed that the best predictor on internalizing children's problem is parental depression. It suggests that family-oriented approach is needed by cancer patients.

Men and women who have a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer may be offered a predictive genetic test to determine whether or not they carry the family specific BRCA1/2 mutation. The sons and daughters of mutation carriers have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting a mutation, which will increase their risk of developing cancer. Little is known about at-risk men's feelings about the part they play in the transmission of BRCA1/2 mutations within their families. This study investigated high risk men's responses to BRCA1/2 predictive genetic testing. Seventeen in-depth interviews were undertaken with carrier ( n= 5) and non-carrier men ( n= 12). All men described genetic testing as a familial duty. It is observed that carriers and non-carriers mobilised differing explanations about their role in the aetiology of risk. It is noted that men engage in a form of narrative reconstruction in which they draw upon discourses of guilt and blame or fate and predestiny in an effort to present themselves as morally responsible or blameless. It is argued that narrative reconstruction enables these men to reconcile their genetic identity, self and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study that compared intrusive memories in depressed and nondepressed individuals with the common stressor of a cancer diagnosis. Association of avoidance of repetitive intrusive memories with problems in autobiographical memory functioning; Characteristic feature of depressive thinking; Methodology used in the study; Implications of the result of the study.

In this article, the author is inviting world cancer health professionals to 14th World Congress of International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) that will be held in Australia in 2012. It informs that the congress has become possible due to the joint effort of Australian Psychosocial Oncology Society (OZPOS), Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ), the Psycho-oncology Cooperative Research Group (PoCoG). The sponsors are also equally responsible for high quality of the congress.

This article presents information regarding developments which have been reported in the journal "Psycho-Oncology" as of January 2002. The journal has been updated so as to create a strong impact on its readers. The studies published in this journal will be accessible to a wider audience. This will prove beneficial in this discipline.