Psycho-oncology and optimal standards of cancer care: developments, multidisciplinary team approach and international guidelines

The development of psycho-oncology over the last thirty-forty years has had a main role in sensitizing the general population, oncology health professional and health care administrators about the need for psychosocial care in cancer. The increase of awareness on the importance of psychosocial issues in medical illness has brought to the development of psychosomatic medicine as a sub-specialty of psychiatry and psychosocial oncology as a special area within cancer disciplines. Psychosocial oncology standards and guidelines are now available in several countries, with Cancer National Plan or Acts indicating psychosocial care in oncology as a mandatory requirement for optimal clinical care. In the chapter the authors review the state of the art of psychosocial care in different countries, underline the criteria to be met for the development of psychosocial oncology services, programs and departments, present the most important recommendations and conclusions of the countries with special experience in the field (e.g Canada, USA, Australia), and the position statement on psychosocial care as a human right for cancer patients and their families.