What is Psychosocial Oncology?
Psychosocial oncology is a cancer specialty that addresses the variety of psychological, behavioral, emotional and social issues that arise for cancer patients and their loved ones. Cancer can cause significant distress for patients and their families. The type of distress varies based on each individual and family experience. It may be influenced by a variety of factors — including the type of cancer, where patients are in their life, and how they tend to cope with challenging situations. In the broadest terms, there are two psychological dimensions of cancer. The first is the emotional response patients and families have to cancer. The second are the emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial difficulties that influence living with cancer. Psychosocial oncology is the specialty that addresses all of these dimensions.
How Does a Psychosocial Oncologist Help Patients, Families, and Support Partners?
Psychosocial oncologist have a very unique skillet set to better provide the specific care cancer patients and their support partners need. These skills include:
- Help improve lifestyle habits to reduce cancer risk
- Assess psychological adjustment and cognitive function
- Treat psychological and physical symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, sleep)
- Assist with family communication & decision-making
- Facilitate grief interventions
- Preform research to development better outcomes and more accurate evaluations¹
A Field with Many Names
Psychosocial oncology is a cancer specialty that addresses the variety of psychological, behavioral, emotional and social issues that arise for cancer patients and their loved ones. Cancer can cause significant distress for patients and their families. The type of distress varies based on each individual and family experience. It may be influenced by a variety of factors — including the type of cancer, where patients are in their life, and how they tend to cope with challenging situations. In the broadest terms, there are two psychological dimensions of cancer. The first is the emotional response patients and families have to cancer. The second are the emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial difficulties that influence living with cancer. Psychosocial oncology is the specialty that addresses all of these dimensions.
What Types of Providers Work in Psychosocial Oncology?
Psychosocial oncology is a cancer specialty that addresses the variety of psychological, behavioral, emotional and social issues that arise for cancer patients and their loved ones.
Cancer can cause significant distress for patients and their families. The type of distress varies based on each individual and family experience. It may be influenced by a variety of factors — including the type of cancer, where patients are in their life, and how they tend to cope with challenging situations.
In the broadest terms, there are two psychological dimensions of cancer.
- The first is the emotional response patients and families have to cancer.
- The second are the emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial difficulties that influence living with cancer.
Psychosocial oncology is the specialty that addresses all of these dimensions.
Why Did My Oncologist Refer Me to Psychosocial Oncology?
There are many possible reasons why your oncologist referred you to Psychosocial oncology.
It could be that you are having difficulty coping with some aspect of living with cancer or your cancer treatment or life following cancer treatment. For example, maybe you are feeling more depressed or anxious since your cancer diagnosis, which is very common.
It could be that you have a psychiatric diagnosis that could be worsened by the cancer or its treatment. For example, maybe you had been treated for major depression in the past, and since starting your cancer treatment, your anti-depressants are no longer working.
It could also be that the cancer or cancer treatment is impacting your mood or behavior in ways that worry you and your medical provider.
Or it could be that you need social support in managing complicated life circumstances or in making important decisions.
Ultimately, it is important to talk with your oncologist to better understand the referral and to keep your oncologist informed about your progress in Psychosocial Oncology. This is an important aspect of whole patient care.
Phases of the Cancer Trajectory & Psychosocial Care¹
Cancer Prevention
-
- Health behavior changes
- Diet/nutrition
- Exercise
- Smoking Cessation
- Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling
Diagnosis/Treatment
- Fear of dying
- Patient education
- Treatment decision-making
- Coping with treatment side effects
- Parenting/role changes
- Communication w/ family/friends about cancer
Post-Treatment
- Fear of recurrence
- Anxiety & Depression
- Body image
- Dating/sexuality concerns
- Role adjustments (Return to work, parenting)
- Post-traumatic growth
- Meaning/purpose
- Cognitive changes
- Health behavior changes
- Communication w/ medical team
Recurrence/Progression Metastatic Diagnosis
- Feeling like a burden
- Caregiver stress
- Depression & suicidal ideation
- Fears of dying
- Coping with physical limitations
- Hopelessness
- Advance Care Planning
- Palliative Care/Symptom management
End of Life
- Fears of dying
- Spiritual concerns
- Communication w/ family about dying
- Transition to hospice
Communication with Family (every phase) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Social/Practical Concerns (all timepoints): Social Support, Financial/Insurance Concerns, Housing, Transportation, Obtaining Medications
What Can I Expect on My First Visit?
Like most medical visits, on your first visit, you can expect to complete an assessment or initial interview. Some of this paperwork will be familiar, including personal and insurance information. Additional questions may focus on your mood or anxiety or other symptoms and behaviors.
You will have a chance to talk about the concerns that brought you to the Psychosocial oncology clinic and will be involved in determining the next steps in your care. This may include additional visits for further evaluation, visits for psychotherapy, and/or medications to address your symptoms (if seeing a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner).
Seek the Care You Want and Need
Cancer patients and their care supporters experience many forms of emotional, psychological, and pshysiological distress. Psychosocial oncology care can help cancer patients manage their symptoms, provide counseling to reduce distress long-term, and provide diagnosis for better outcomes.
Psychosocial oncology is a mutli-faceted form for cancer care to support people with cancer. More specifically, psychosocial professionals can help with understanding and treating the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, quality of life, and functional aspects of cancer.
Content developed by Guy Maytal, MD & The APOS Professional Education Committee | June 2020 with additions in 2024 noted with footnotes
¹ Sharla Wells-Di Gregorio, PhD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine,
President, American Psychosocial Oncology Society