Psycho-oncology
Psycho-oncology Psychology and oncology come together to support individuals with cancer and their entire families. The serious impact that cancer has on a person's psychological well-being is now widely recognized and documented in the literature. There are different stages of the disease process that must be considered to support the patient and their family; each stage is characterized by different emotional experiences.
Emotional support for facing cancer, step by step, together with the family.
A possible course of the disease to take into account in psycho-oncological support is:
– The diagnosis
– Medical therapies
– The remission
– Disease progression
The psycho-oncologist tries to provide support to patients and their families in coping with cancer. Through consultations, the psychologist provides assistance to those who feel the need for help, with the goal of easing emotional suffering. These difficulties are also hard to face for the partner and children, who sometimes struggle to accept that their loved one is ill or don't know how to behave around them (overprotection or rejection). Another very common problem is whether and how to tell one's children about the illness. Telling children the truth is the first step in facing the illness. Children, even when kept in the dark, sense that something is wrong, and the feeling of not understanding tends to fuel their worry rather than spare them from it. Here too, the psychologist can offer valuable support.
In this regard, I would like to point out the downloadable brochure “What do I tell my children?”, created by AIMAC (Italian Association of Cancer Patients), which explains the reasons why it's good to talk about the illness with your children, also indicating how to do so based on the child's age.
Family and friends are an important resource for cancer patients. Everyone can find their own way to support them in their battle with cancer. Below is the moving story of Gerdi and her friends, important instruments in her orchestra.
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Psycho-oncological support is part of a broader path: here's how I work as a psychotherapist in Florence.
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