Psychology

Psychology 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 conversations, the psychologist provides assistance to those who feel the need for help, with the aim of alleviating emotional suffering. These difficulties can also be difficult for partners and children, who sometimes cannot accept that their loved one is ill or do not know how to behave with 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 dealing with the illness. Children, even if kept in the dark, sense that something is wrong, and the feeling of not understanding would contribute to fueling the child's worry, rather than alleviating it. In this case too, the psychologist can be a valid 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 is good talking about the illness with your children also indicating how to do it 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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