Living with cancer: Urgent need for emotional health support

Authors : Alexander A, Murthy RS

Publication Year : 2020

Abstract :

The emotional health of persons diagnosed with cancer is compromised. Emotional health care should be part of all stages of cancer care. However, this is not so, not only in India but also in Western countries. International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) noted on World Cancer Day, 2019 “IPOS is working hard to integrate psychosocial care into mainstream cancer care worldwide.” Similar is the resolution of the World Health Organisation (2017), “to promote and facilitate psychosocial counseling and aftercare for cancer patients and their families, taking into account the increasingly chronic nature of cancer.” In a recent study, there is evidence of the importance of pre-existing mental illness in persons diagnosed with cancer, as a predictor of higher mortality. There are also reports of the significant unmet emotional needs among survivors of cancer both in developed and developing countries. A study from a developing country stated “most parents of children with cancer reported a need for more information and reported signs of anxiety and depression”. During the last two decades, great efforts have been made in cancer research toward treatment with positive results. With this, cancer treatment has come to be intensive, with increased psychosocial needs of survivors. The diagnosis and treatment affect the emotional health of the patient and the family.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32594071/