ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2974

Interdiscplinary - Other

ESTRO 2024

2746

Digital Poster

Influence of Permanent Marks on Patients in Follow-up: Psychological Impact for Improved Well-being

Barnaba Floreno 1 , Salvatore Minuti 2 , Alessia Di Donato 1 , Pasquale Trecca 1 , Angelo Montagnoli 1 , Corrado Macauda 1 , Michele Fiore 1,2 , Sara Ramella 1,2 1 Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Radiation Oncology, Rome, Italy. 2 Università Campus Bio-Medico, Radiation Oncology, Rome, Italy

Purpose/Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychological and social impact of permanent mark on oncological patient in follow-up, such as surgical scars or tattoos performed for radiotherapy (RT).

Material/Methods:

During follow-up check-ups, we administered a questionnaire about body image (BI) using the EORTC Quality of Life Study Group Body Image scale, which included 4 brand new questions specifically related to the impact of tattoos, making a total of 13 questions.

Results:

From September 2022 to February 2023, a population of 500 patients with different tumor types (51.8% male and 48.2% female), with a mean age of 68 years (range 34-89 years) was evaluated. All patients completed the questionnaire. More than 32% of patients believe that their body has undergone changes due to cancer treatments, and in 21.4% to 25.4% of cases, a reduction in physical and sexual attraction is reported. This discomfort is related to surgical scars in 22.4% of patients. Our study shows that 9% of patients feel physically less attractive due to RT tattoos, and 6.8% of patients reported being influenced in the way they dress or experiencing general discomfort when looking at themselves naked in the mirror. Globally, the preference for RT without permanent tattoos was reported in 17% of patients. A global dissatisfaction over Body Image was reported by 37.1% of women and 7.4% of men. In the whole group, Physical and psychological discomfort caused by permanent tattoos was reported in 14.2% of women and 1.3% of men. In a subgroup of 132 women aged 35-65 with thoracic tumors (breast, lung, thymoma) the percentage arise to 58.3%; moreover in this group 18.2% of cases refer that they feel themselves less attractive because of tattoo and the preference for radiotherapy without permanent tattoos was reported in 29.5%.

Conclusion:

This study revealed that permanent marks, such as surgical scars and tattoos for radiotherapy, have a psychological and social impact on oncological patients. The study underscores the importance of addressing