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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
A Melanoma Patient-Derived Xenograft Model
Published on: May 20, 2019
Melanoma care during one year pandemic in Berlin: decreasing appointment cancellations despite increasing COVID-19
Aleksandra Micek1,2, Katharina Diehl3,4, Miriam Teuscher5
1Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Vivantes Klinikum Spandau, Berlin, Germany.
Background And Objectives:
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great challenge for cancer patients. Our aim was to assess its influence on treatment and appointments of melanoma patients after one year of pandemic.
Methods:
Melanoma patients treated in the Vivantes Skin Cancer Centre in Berlin, Germany completed a postal survey on pandemic-related alterations in melanoma care. Impact factors on changes of appointments were examined with descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Data after one year of pandemic were compared to those after its first wave.
Results:
Among 366 participants (57.7 % males; mean age 69.2 years, response rate: 36.1 %), 38 (10.1 %) reported postponed or missed appointments, mostly on their own demand (71.1 %) due to fear of COVID-19 (52.6 %). Current treatment was associated with a lower risk of changing appointments (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.194, p = 0.002), higher age (OR: 1.037, p = 0.039), longer disease duration (OR: 1.007, p = 0.028), and higher school degree (OR: 2.263, p = 0.043) with higher probability. Among 177 patients currently receiving therapy, only 1.7 % experienced pandemic-related treatment alterations. Concern about COVID-19 was significantly higher after one year of pandemic than after its first wave, but the number of missed appointments was lower.
Conclusions:
Pandemic-related changes were rare in our cohort and decreased over time despite increasing concern.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic rarely impacted melanoma patient appointments and treatments, with most changes self-initiated due to fear. Despite rising concerns, appointment alterations decreased over time.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges for cancer patient care.
- Melanoma patients, in particular, faced potential disruptions to their treatment and appointments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on melanoma patient treatment and appointments.
- To analyze factors affecting changes in appointments and compare data one year into the pandemic versus its initial wave.
Main Methods:
- A postal survey was conducted among melanoma patients at the Vivantes Skin Cancer Centre in Berlin, Germany.
- Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine impact factors on appointment changes.
- Data collected after one year of the pandemic were compared to data from its first wave.
Main Results:
- Out of 366 participants, 10.1% reported postponed or missed appointments, primarily due to COVID-19 fears and often at the patient's request.
- Factors associated with a higher probability of changing appointments included older age, longer disease duration, and higher education levels.
- Only 1.7% of patients undergoing active therapy experienced pandemic-related treatment alterations; missed appointments decreased over time despite increased COVID-19 concern.
Conclusions:
- Pandemic-related changes to melanoma care were infrequent within this patient cohort.
- Despite growing concerns about COVID-19, the actual alterations in appointments and treatment decreased over the first year of the pandemic.
