Impact on Quality of Life and Psychological Dimensions in Caregivers of Melanoma and Sarcoma Patients: A Scoping Review

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Although they differ in terms of epidemiological incidence, melanoma and sarcoma are rare, aggressive cancers with a substantial impact on patients' quality of life and that of their caregivers. Caregivers, who are often family members, experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and caregiving burden, leading to significant psychological, social, and economic repercussions. The aim of this scoping review was to identify the assessment tools used to study the quality of life and psychological well-being of caregivers of patients with melanoma and/or sarcoma, and to highlight the main areas of difficulty. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases identified 325 studies, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. Eligible studies were English language publications focusing on caregivers of adult patients (>18 years) with melanoma or sarcoma. Reviews, case reports, animal studies, or clinical trials, abstracts, books or book chapters, and studies without clear information on assessment tools or involving the pediatric population were excluded. <b>Results</b>: The studies included (2007-2024) involve 3464 caregivers in all, 211 of whom were caring for patients with melanoma or sarcoma. Caregivers were predominantly female (women-to-men ratio of 2:1) with an average age of 50 years. Caregivers presented severely impaired quality of life, high psychological distress, economic and work difficulties, and limited access to emotional support. <b>Conclusions</b>: Cancer caregiving emerges as a complex process influenced by individual, relational, and contextual factors that affect psychological well-being. Despite limitations related to the small number of studies, the predominance of melanoma-focused research, limited sample diversity, and heterogeneous designs and assessment tools, this review highlights the need for a theoretically grounded and clinically integrated approach that recognizes caregivers as active yet vulnerable participants within the care system.