Psycho-oncology

This volume describes the many ways in which mental health professionals have contributed to improving the lot of the cancer patient. A large section of the book is devoted to the psychological, social and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer risk and survival. Changing habits and behavior-reducing smoking, increasing certain foods intake, and decreasing sun exposure, for instance-is a significant factor in cancer risk, and becomes the focus of several chapters. Social class and socioeconomic issues are analysed as far as they affect cancer risk and survival. Two chapters explore the brain-endocrine-immune connections and how they contribute to cancer prevention. Other sections describe new psychological issues brought about by recent advances in cancer research. Sections of the book cover the "worried well" population-healthy people who are or who believe themselves to be predisposed to cancer. Chapters discuss tracing these people's family history, genetic testing, appropriate screening behaviors and counseling.
A major section of the book deals with psychosocial interventions to improve patients' quality of life using psychological, psychoeducational, and behavioral methods. The book covers the use of psychopharmacological drugs, group therapies, nontraditional therapies (art, meditation, alternative medicine), and religious collaboration in helping ease the ordeal. Authors argue the ethical aspects of cancer care, including the ethics of clinical trials, informed consent, physician-assisted suicide, and palliative care. The specifics of caring for children with cancer, and for patients with special needs, such as the elderly and minorities, are accorded special attention.