CLINICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH CUTANEOUS MELANOMA TREATED AT A PUBLIC ONCOLOGY REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN FLORIANOPOLIS, FROM 2013 TO 2017

Introduction: Cutaneous melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer and its incidence has significantly increased in recent years. In particular, Florianópolis is the Brazilian capital with the highest incidence of the disease. Objective: To investigate the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients with cutaneous melanoma treated at a public oncology referral hospital in Florianópolis from 2013 to 2017 Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at the Oncology Research Center of Santa Catarina (CEPON). The study included 468 patients diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer (ICD-O, 3rd edition C44 – Skin melanoma) evaluated between 2013 and 2017. Data collection was performed by accessing the Hospital’s Cancer Registry and electronic and physical medical records. Data were plotted in the Windows Excel software spreadsheet and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at the Oncology Research Center of Santa Catarina (CEPON). The study included 468 patients diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer (ICD-O, 3rd edition C44 – Skin melanoma) evaluated between 2013 and 2017. Data collection was performed by accessing the Hospital’s Cancer Registry and electronic and physical medical records. Data were plotted in the Windows Excel software spreadsheet and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Conclusion: The present study characterized the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma and treated at a referral hospital in the Brazilian capital with the highest skin cancer case rates.