Advanced basal cell carcinoma treated with vismodegib: impact on the lives of patients and their families

Locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC) has always represented an uncommon, difficult to treat form of skin cancer until the hedgehog inhibitor (HHI) vismodegib was approved. Approximately 80% of laBCCs occur in the head and neck region causing disfiguring skin changes that impact on patients' quality of life. Because the lives of patients with advanced BCCs are severely disrupted, it would be expected that the quality of life of family members involved in caregiving, would also be affected. The aim of our study was to quantify the quality of life (QoL) of both patients and family members during vismodegib treatment using the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire, respectively