The psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical elements of cancer are all addressed in psycho-oncology. The psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease, as well as those of their family and caregivers, are addressed in this subspecialty, as are the psychological, behavioral, and social aspects that may influence the disease process. Clinical disciplines (surgery, medicine, pediatrics, radiotherapy), epidemiology, immunology, endocrinology, biology, pathology, bioethics, palliative care, rehabilitation medicine, clinical trials research and decision making, as well as psychiatry and psychology, are all areas of interest in psycho-oncology.
Cancer is recognized to be a terrible and life-limiting condition that claims the lives of millions of people each year. Cancer not only impacts a person’s physical health, but it also has a significant mental impact that many individuals find difficult to cope with. As a result, it is highly normal for people to experience emotional anguish following receiving a cancer diagnosis.
Despite the fact that it has been performed in India for over a decade, most people are unaware of it. Furthermore, many people consider mental health to be a taboo subject, making it even more difficult for cancer sufferers to speak with a healthcare professional. It is critical for cancer patients and their families to understand that speaking with a psycho-oncologist does not suggest that the patient or caregiver is mentally ill, but rather that it can help them cope with cancer more effectively.
A psycho-oncologist is a doctor who has been trained to provide specific interventions from the time of diagnosis to the end of treatment. They help individuals and families cope with loss, learn coping techniques, and build resilience by focusing on psychosocial elements of patients and caregivers as well as identifying requirements (physical and psychological). They also provide pre- and post-operative counselling, as well as support and grief counselling, as well as strive to improve lifestyles.
The following are some ways in which the psycho-oncology team can assist you:
Managing your treatment and diagnosis
assisting you in adjusting to loss and transition
Considering your body’s modifications (Body image issues)
Sexual problems, dealing with changes in your relationships and physical closeness
Balancing job, home, and family life is difficult.
Sadness, rage, anxiety, and melancholy are all common emotions.
Pain, weariness, and treatment side effects (acute/chronic) cause distress.
Fear of recurrence, advanced sickness, and end-of-life care are all aspects of living with uncertainty.
Family and friend emotional support (Diagnosis & bereavement)
When it comes to cancer, it’s important to talk to kids about it.
Tobacco abstinence and so much more.
What kinds of counselling and mental therapies do cancer patients require the most as they go from diagnosis to recovery? Do you provide services to families and careers as well?
The psychological and counselling needs of patients might vary dramatically depending on the disease and therapy they are receiving, and even within the same patient at different stages of their cancer journey. Meeting patients where they are in their journey is the most crucial aspect of any intervention. We use a number of treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive psychotherapy, psycho-education, behavioral interventions, and psychopharmacology, to treat patients’ symptoms while also equipping them with the tools they need to manage in the future.
Of course, treating the family unit and caregivers is ideal, but it is difficult to achieve owing to time restrictions and a lack of insurance coverage that allows families and caregivers to receive psychiatric care or therapy without incurring exorbitant out-of-pocket expenditures. Family members are included in discussions whenever possible, and psychological factors that may affect the patient’s therapy or recovery are addressed.
Brain health (both cognitive and mental/emotional health), nutritional demands, pain and debilitation, and existential difficulties (spirituality or life-meaning/purpose) can all become impediments to navigating cancer and its treatment successfully. The purpose of a psycho-oncologist is to identify and eliminate these barriers via medicine, psychotherapy, direct communication with the oncologist, or collaboration with the larger Cancer Support Services team. Even in the most difficult of situations, removing these barriers makes it far simpler for patients to discover pockets of joy. They have the ability to rise up and take control of their lives.
