Psycho-oncology is a science included in clinical and health psychology. It is in charge of helping the healthy channeling of emotions of cancer patients and their families. In this sense, it tries to increase the quality of life of cancer patients, improve adherence to medical treatments, patient self-care and encourage active styles of coping with the disease, at any stage of the disease: diagnosis, treatments, survival, relapse, final phase of life and bereavement.
The ultimate goal of psycho-oncological treatment is to improve the patient’s quality of life, as well as to restore personal and family balance during and after the disease.
Importance of psychological care for cancer patients
Statistically, it is stated that between 30 and 50% of people suffering from the disease present some psychological alteration susceptible to psycho-oncological treatment. The most frequent are adjustment disorders, anxiety and depression which, when not adequately treated, can generate other physical or emotional problems. Thus, people who tend to be anxious often describe the side effects of chemotherapy as unbearable, so that their perception of these side effects is greater, an aspect that increases their anxiety and suffering. Likewise, people who tend to be sad and depressed tend to approach the problem with helplessness, hopelessness and non-active coping with the health problem.
From the point of view of health psychology, the human being is conceived as a bio-psycho-social being and, therefore, in the face of an illness such as cancer, the treatment received by the patient must be integral. Mind and body are linked by the neuroendocrine system and what happens to the body provokes emotions and feelings that must be adequately channeled.
Psycho-oncology offers an integral treatment of the disease by evaluating and treating the emotional reactions or imbalances suffered by the patient and/or his family, favoring the assimilation of the diagnosis and changes produced by the treatments, as well as the adaptation to the new situation produced after the diagnosis.
Influence and help of relatives and acquaintances in the diagnosis of cancer.
The patient’s emotional situation from diagnosis to recovery is one of personal vulnerability, feelings of loneliness, helplessness, anger, sadness or fear, so that they are initially reactive to the situation. The support of family members and their environment will be essential for the patient to adequately overcome their physical and emotional process and reintegrate into their daily life. The attitude of the partner, children, siblings, friends… will help or hinder the process of acceptance and adaptation.
On many occasions the direct family is strongly affected by the situation and it is difficult for them to relate adequately with the patient and even to talk openly about what is happening. Concerns about how to inform minor or adolescent children, older or sick parents, whether or not the patient should know what is happening to him/her, are very common in the psycho-oncology consultation.
Emotional treatment of the cancer patient
Psycho-oncology has various evidence-based treatments that can be offered to the patient or family members to improve the problem for which they come for consultation.
At the time of diagnosis and treatment processes, psychoeducation helps to perceive a greater sense of control over the situation and improves the patient’s attitude towards medical tests, self-care, aspects of sexuality and active coping.
Throughout the treatment process, and depending on the emotional reactions presented by the patient, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has different techniques that can help improve the quality of life of the patient and/or family members:
– Cognitive reconstruction improves the interpretation of the health problem, helps to elaborate emotions and transform them into positive emotions, states of prolonged sadness and even reactive depression.
– Relaxation and mindfulness favor the decrease of anxiety, anxious worry, associated fears, insomnia, etc.
– Emotional and behavioral self-control techniques can reverse fears or phobias of needles, enclosed spaces, hospitals…
On the other hand, interpersonal therapy can favor improvement and adaptation in family relationships, help in the process of role transition (moving from being a healthy person to being a sick person) and family changes, acceptance of changes in self-image and increased self-esteem, loss and grief. In addition, interpersonal therapy can be of great help in familial cancer in managing emotions and feelings regarding the threat of being a carrier of a genetic mutation that predisposes to cancer, as well as the feeling of guilt of the survivor or patient identified as a carrier of the mutation.
Likewise, counseling favors communication with the family and with the specialists treating the patient, bringing peace of mind and balance.
Results of psycho-oncological therapy
Psycho-oncological therapy has been evaluated and endorsed by the Agency for the Evaluation of Health Technologies (AETS), of the Carlos III Institute. With this therapy we can achieve more informed and proactive patients in their decisions and management of the disease, create a private space for emotional relief, manage emotional reactions that make the patient suffer (anxiety, depression, loneliness, helplessness, helplessness …), improve family relationships, promote active coping styles at any stage of the process. In short, an increase in physical and emotional well-being.
Summary of the process to be followed in psycho-oncological therapy
By way of summary, the content to be followed in psycho-oncological therapy can be summarized according to the phases of the disease.
1) At the time of diagnosis:
– Stress prevention. Help the patient and family members to process and contain the emotions generated by the news of the cancer diagnosis.
– Management of emotional blockage. Helps the patient to begin to assimilate the news and make appropriate decisions regarding their treatment.
2) During treatment in general:
– Psychoeducation: informing the patient and family members of the changes they will have to face with the treatment, management of side effects, changes in self-image, etc.
– Assist in the recovery of the patient’s physical and mental health.
3) In the field of palliative care:
– Pain and other symptom management.
– To guide and support the caregiver and the family to face the proximity of death, and everything that allows improving their quality of life.
4) Bereavement phase:
– Elaborate stages of the grieving process until recovery.