title: Psychological adjustment to the melanoma experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a review of the literature on the psychological adjustment to malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research reports and review articles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three prominent themes evolved from the literature: (1) delineation of issues concerning long-term survivorship and quality of life following a diagnosis of melanoma; (2) coping with metastatic and end-stage melanoma; and (3) identification of the possible link between immunomodulation and the evolution of melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncology nurses must individualize their support and counsel according to the potential trajectory of the patient's melanoma experience. Nurses need to identify an individual's risk for psychological distress and help them enhance coping skills.
authors.affiliation: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 1111 E. McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85006, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D015399:Nursing Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology