Aspects of psychological issues of adult cancer patients

Abstract

The complex nature of cancer dictates a team approach to the management and psychological issues have become increasingly necessary components. Furthermore, psychological complications may negatively impact on the overall outcome of management of cancer patients. Psychological issues manifest in the forms of pain, anxiety, depressive reactions and inability to work. These are consequences of aspects of cancer and its treatment. For example, the course of treatment regimens may be noxious or life threatening and certain types of treatment may cause sterility or infertility, loss of organ function and other disabilities. Other factors influencing psychological morbidity include learning of the diagnosis, patients' past history, family setting, economic position, gender, age, anatomical site of the cancer, and some aspects of treatment modalities. While cancer patients have high needs for informational and emotional support, doctors vary in their ability to recognize and advise on these needs. Furthermore, the adjustment should begin with preventive psychological intervention during the diagnostic and acute treatment phase of the illness. This paper reviews the psychological issues that require attention so as to enable interventions useful during the phases of cancer management.