Cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide and the second leading cause of death. The IARC reports 3.2 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths from cancer in Europe in 2006. Within these figures, the EU25 accounted for nearly 2.3 million new cases and over 1 million cancer deaths. The incidence of cancer increased between 1950 and 2005, partly as a result of population growth and ageing. Survival from cancer is also improving –several million people are cured or live with cancer for many years in Europe. In this context, evaluation and understanding of the psychosocial aspects of cancer and its treatment have become a mandatory part of cancer care. The psychosocial dimensions of cancer have been explored in the literature since the 1950s. Only over the past 25 years has it developed into a specific discipline and subspecialty – psycho-oncology. Psycho-oncology addresses a range of psychosocial, behavioural, spiritual and existential dimensions along the entire journey travelled by cancer patients and their families. Its goal is to ensure that all of these receive optimal psychosocial care at all stages of disease and survivorship. This chapter sets out a discussion of the main psychosocial concomitants of cancer; their consequences for patients and their families; and the development and application of guidelines for screening and evaluating the psychosocial needs of cancer patients. This is followed by a description of the contributions that psychosocial interventions can offer to the process of educating and training cancer physicians, and the evidence-based psychosocial treatment of cancer patients that can be pursued by means of a multidisciplinary approach.
The role of psychosocial oncology in cancer care
GRASSI, Luigi;
2008
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide and the second leading cause of death. The IARC reports 3.2 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths from cancer in Europe in 2006. Within these figures, the EU25 accounted for nearly 2.3 million new cases and over 1 million cancer deaths. The incidence of cancer increased between 1950 and 2005, partly as a result of population growth and ageing. Survival from cancer is also improving –several million people are cured or live with cancer for many years in Europe. In this context, evaluation and understanding of the psychosocial aspects of cancer and its treatment have become a mandatory part of cancer care. The psychosocial dimensions of cancer have been explored in the literature since the 1950s. Only over the past 25 years has it developed into a specific discipline and subspecialty – psycho-oncology. Psycho-oncology addresses a range of psychosocial, behavioural, spiritual and existential dimensions along the entire journey travelled by cancer patients and their families. Its goal is to ensure that all of these receive optimal psychosocial care at all stages of disease and survivorship. This chapter sets out a discussion of the main psychosocial concomitants of cancer; their consequences for patients and their families; and the development and application of guidelines for screening and evaluating the psychosocial needs of cancer patients. This is followed by a description of the contributions that psychosocial interventions can offer to the process of educating and training cancer physicians, and the evidence-based psychosocial treatment of cancer patients that can be pursued by means of a multidisciplinary approach.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
