Psycho-oncology: the role of the psychologist in cancer

Intervening psychologically on patients and their loved ones helps to reduce their discomfort.

It is not surprising that hearing the word Cancer sends a shiver down your spine.. Surely you know someone close to you who is a victim of this disease, or maybe you even suffer from it or have suffered from it yourself; no one is immune to this disease that destroys lives in its wake.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the number of deaths from this cause increases over the years.

That is why it is important to know the tools available to us to face this reality. And, among these aids, there is Psycho-oncology, which I would like to talk to you about.

The psychological impact of cancer

For cancer patients, the disease brings physical as well as emotional and social difficulties.. The high levels of depression, anxiety and distress associated with this pathology make it necessary to recognize the role of psychological and emotional problems in cancer patients and their families.

Different studies show that between 30 and 50% of people suffering from the disease have some psychological alteration susceptible to the disease. have some psychological disturbance susceptible to psychological treatment, the most frequent being adjustment disorders, anxiety and depression. The family and the main caregivers of the patient also show a high degree of suffering. The role of the family and their support in the face of cancer is of crucial importance for a good adaptation of the patient to the disease.

What is Psycho-oncology?

The branch of psychology responsible for the intervention and counseling of both people affected by cancer and their families and caregivers, is known as Psycho-oncology.

This discipline provides important benefits to cancer patients and their families: provides emotional support, reduces the impact that the disease generates It provides emotional support, reduces the impact of the disease on the affected person and their environment, provides coping, management and adaptation skills, helps in the understanding of the disease, facilitating medical adherence, and improves communication with the medical team.

In short, psycho-oncology aims to promote the quality of life of the patient and his or her loved ones in the different phases of the oncological disease.

Psycho-oncology according to the stages of the disease

The intervention of the psycho-oncologist differs depending on the evolution of the cancerThe psychological manifestations change according to the stage of the disease in which the patient finds himself, his symptoms and the treatments received.

The latter can intervene in different phases throughout the evolution of the disease.

1. Diagnostic phase

The response to the diagnosis usually consists of, after an initial moment of shockIntense emotional responses including sadness, anger, anxiety, feelings of helplessness, depression, etc. Therefore, the work of the psychologist aims to mitigate the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, providing the patient and his or her family with emotional support and coping strategies to deal with the disease.

2. Treatment phase

Cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) are aggressive, painful, uncomfortable and have multiple side effects. Therefore, psychological support, pain management and emotional pain management and relief of emotional distress can help the patient adhere to can help the patient to adhere to medical treatment.

3. Remission phase

In this stage where the cancer has remitted, the psycho-oncologist's intervention is based on facilitating the expression of fears and worries. is based on facilitating the expression of fears and worries of both the patient and his family members.It is important for the psychologist to consolidate the psychologist's knowledge of the patient's fears and concerns, both of the patient and his family members, due to the uncertainty and the threat of recurrence of the disease. It is important for the psychologist to consolidate a close therapeutic bond, address emotional disturbances and provide the necessary psychological tools to be able to gradually return to normality.

4. Relapse phase

It is a stage of great impact because it triggers intense emotional reactions (rage, anger, aggressiveness, despair, etc.). Intervention by psycho-oncology in this period consists of addressing and treating the emotional states of the patient. consists in addressing and treating depressive and anxious states. that may be generated in the patient and his family and work on the adaptation to the new pathological state.

5. Terminal phase

Some of the emotions that usually surface in this phase are denial, anger, depression, isolation, aggressiveness and fear of death. The patient palliative care is providedThe aim is to ensure that the patient receives the best possible care in the transition to death. To this end, it is necessary to attend to psychological difficulties, manage pain and physical symptoms, offer social, emotional and spiritual support and promote control strategies in the terminally ill patient.

6. Death

When death is imminent, the task of accompanying the patient in the process of dying and his family in the development of grief arises, in order to prevent pathological grief.. The psycho-oncologist must address the different emotions faced by the patient at the approach of death in order to channel their feelings, guide them to close their pending issues and accept their new reality.

7. Grief

Psychological treatment is aimed at helping family members and loved ones to the loss of the loved one, accepting their absence, working on the emotions and pain it generates, in order to be able to adapt to life without the deceased.

As we have seen, the work of the psycho-oncologist is of crucial importance to reduce the anxiety and depression that a large number of oncology patients and their families suffer, supporting them in all phases of the disease and achieving a better adjustment and less suffering in this difficult battle against the disease.

Bibliographic references:

• Almanza M, Holland J. Psycho-oncology, current status and future perspectives. Rev. National Cancer Institute: Vol.46 No. 3.

• Die Trill, M. (2003). Psycho-oncology. Madrid. Ades Ediciones.

• Hernández, M. Cruzado J.A. and Arana, Z. (2007). Psychological problems in cancer patients: difficulties in detection and referral to the psycho-oncologist. Psicooncología, 4, 179-191.