Psycho-Oncology for the Clinician

This volume strives to give oncologists and other medical practitioners a thorough picture of the oncology patient. It's designed to show that psychological needs of the patient are an important aspect that should be considered for optimizing the effects of cancer treatment, no less than genetic, immunological, physiological and other medical features that are often considered as necessary components of personalized medicine. Using evidence-based information, the book describes the different ways cancer touches upon a person's life, including emotional, physical, and social changes, important decisions, and support structure. It also details the phases every cancer patient encounters along the way, from getting tested and waiting for the diagnosis, to treatments, survival, and confronting one's mortality.

Psycho-oncology for the Clinician will serve to contribute to the further scientific development of psycho-oncology, expandits use as a treatment modality, strengthen its status as an essential component of cancer care, and promote the acceptance of psycho-oncology as the new evidence-based constituent of personalized medicine in oncology.

The History of Psycho-oncology. - The Special Characteristics of Oncology and Psycho-Oncology. - The Phases of the Confrontation with Cancer. - Determinants, Risk Factors, and Protective Factors for Cancer: Environmental, Physiological and Demographic. - Psychosocial Risk Factors for Cancer. - The Impact of Cancer. - Major Decision in the Life of Cancer Patients. - Treatments and Inventions in Cancer. - Coping with Cancer. - Quality of Life. - The Family in Cancer. - Relations with the Physicians and Medical Institutions. - Confronting Dying and Death. - Specific Cancer Diseases: The Psychological Perspective. - Special Populations of Patients. - The Caretakers.