Psychosocial implications of lung cancer.

Patients with lung cancer who are encouraged and permitted to verbalize their feelings by a staff that is interested, empathetic, and nonjudgmental are better able to overcome feelings of anxiety and fear, and they progress through the stages of the grieving process more easily. Communications between the lung cancer patient and the multidisciplinary staff should occur freely and without restraint. Unrealistic expectations made of the patient who is struggling to cope will almost certainly increase anxiety. Interventions must address coping responses of the patient and family living with lung cancer. Caregivers working with patients whose diagnoses are not favorable must examine their own feelings regarding terminal disease states and death before the entire cancer experience can be discussed openly and comfortably by the patient, family members, and health care team. The focus of care for families and patients living with lung cancer should be on care rather than cure.