David H P
Transnational Family Research Institute, 8307 Whitman Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA.
Patient Educ Couns. 1999 Jul;37(3):293-7. doi: 10.1016/s0738-3991(99)00032-4.
Building on personal experience, the psychological impact of cancer is reviewed. The subspecialty of psycho-oncology is a recent development within oncology, reflecting the increased interest in behavioral, psychological, and social factors in cancer prevention, treatment, and in improving the quality of life of patients with cancer at all stages through counseling and educational programs. Early identification of patients who are coping poorly is important for compliance with treatment and control of distress. It is equally important to recognize and diagnose common psychological disorders, primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms, which can occur. Referral for counseling to a mental health professional familiar with the care of patients with cancer may be indicated. My successful confrontation with cancer led to emotional growth. For those who cannot be sanguine about their experience, there may still be ways to reduce its, at times, devastating psychological impact. Hopefully, the days in which cancer patients had to suffer alone, in secrecy, and in fearful silence, are disappearing.
基于个人经历，本文对癌症的心理影响进行了综述。心理肿瘤学这一亚专业是肿瘤学领域的一个新发展，反映出人们对癌症预防、治疗过程中的行为、心理和社会因素，以及通过咨询和教育项目提高各阶段癌症患者生活质量的兴趣日益增加。早期识别应对能力差的患者对于治疗依从性和痛苦控制很重要。同样重要的是识别和诊断可能出现的常见心理障碍，主要是焦虑和抑郁症状。可能需要转介给熟悉癌症患者护理的心理健康专业人员进行咨询。我与癌症的成功抗争带来了情感成长。对于那些对自己的经历无法乐观面对的人，仍可能有办法减轻其有时具有毁灭性的心理影响。希望癌症患者不得不独自、秘密且恐惧地默默忍受痛苦的日子正在消失。
