Cancer care today often provides state-of-the-science biomedical treatment, but fails to address the psychological and social (psychosocial) problems associated with the illness. This failure can compromise the effectiveness of health care and thereby adversely affect the health of cancer patients. Psychological and social problems created or exacerbated by cancer-including depression and other emotional problems; lack of information or skills needed to manage the illness; lack of transportation or other resources; and disruptions in work, school, and family life-cause additional suffering, weaken adherence to prescribed treatments, and threaten patients' return to health. Today, it is not possible to deliver high-quality cancer care without using existing approaches, tools, and resources to address patients' psychosocial health needs. All patients with cancer and their families should expect and receive cancer care that ensures the provision of appropriate psychosocial health services. Cancer Care for the Whole Patient recommends actions that oncology providers, health policy makers, educators, health insurers, health planners, researchers and research sponsors, and consumer advocates should undertake to ensure that this standard is met.

The Cancer Survival Guide will lead you through what will undoubtedly be the most crucial healthcare decisions you'll ever make. This definite manual to understanding, managing and preventing the diseases offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information. Rely on the Cancer Survival Guide to address every facet of this illness that not only affects the sufferer's physical well-being and lifestyle, but one whose reverberations are also felt emotionally and spiritually, impacting family, friends, and caregivers alike.

As a cancer survivor, Randy Becton knows firsthand the onslaught this disease brings on the human spirit. His experience creates a special bond with fellow cancer patients, making his encouragement even more powerful. In Everyday Strength he offers hope and comfort through poetic prayers, Scripture, brief reflections, and uplifting thoughts for each day. Everyday Strength deals honestly with topics such as depression, anger, fear, and loneliness. It guides those who are fighting cancer toward spiritual and mental wellness in the face of physical illness. First published in 1989, these thirty-three meditations are now repackaged with a fresh look for today.

Palliative care provides comprehensive support for severely affected patients with any life-limiting or life-threatening diagnosis. To do this effectively, it requires a disease-specific approach as the patients’ needs and clinical context will vary depending on the underlying diagnosis. Experts in the field of palliative care and oncology describe in detail the needs of patients with advanced cancer in comparison to those with non-cancer disease and also identify the requirements of patients with different cancer entities. Basic principles of symptom control are explained, with careful attention to therapy for pain associated with either the cancer or its treatment and to symptom-guided antineoplastic therapy. Complex therapeutic strategies for palliative cancer patients are highlighted that involve both cancer- and symptom-directed options and address a range of therapeutic aims. Issues relating to drug use in palliative cancer care are fully explored, and a separate section is devoted to care in the final phase. A range of organizational and policy issues are also discussed, and the book concludes by considering likely future developments in palliative care for cancer patients. Palliative Care in Oncology will be of particular interest to palliative care physicians who are interested in broadening the scope of their disease-specific knowledge, as well as to oncologists who wish to learn more about modern palliative care concepts relevant to their day-to-day work with cancer patients.

This book discusses the impact on women of the diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer. Readers will learn about the risks of breast cancer recurrence and interventions to reduce these, such as endocrine therapy and bisphosphonate therapy, as well as the role of lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. The long-term effects of treatment on fertility, the heart and other systems are discussed, as well the psychological burden for women who are increasingly likely to be cured from their cancer. Each chapter provides background and a practical guide in the management of women after the initial phase of diagnosis and treatment. Authored by a multidisciplinary team this book provides all the relevant expertise as well as different perspectives, providing a holistic picture of early breast cancer consequences. From oncologists to general practitioners as well as specialist nurses, gynaecologists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the long-term care of women with breast cancer, this book provides a timely and indispensable guide to practitioners caring for early breast cancer survivors.

This book explores in depth the relation between physical activity and cancer control, including primary prevention, coping with treatments, recovery after treatments, long-term survivorship, secondary prevention, and survival. The first part of the book presents the most recent research on the impact of physical activity in preventing a range of cancers. In the second part, the association between physical activity and cancer survivorship is addressed. The effects of physical activity on supportive care endpoints (e.g., quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning) and disease endpoints (e.g., biomarkers, recurrence, survival) are carefully analyzed. In addition, the determinants of physical activity in cancer survivors are discussed, and behavior change strategies for increasing physical activity in cancer survivors are appraised. The final part of the book is devoted to special topics, including the relation of physical activity to pediatric cancer survivorship and to palliative cancer care.

Cancer is low or absent on the health agendas of low- and middle-income countries (LMCs) despite the fact that more people die from cancer in these countries than from AIDS and malaria combined. International health organizations, bilateral aid agencies, and major foundations—which are instrumental in setting health priorities—also have largely ignored cancer in these countries. This book identifies feasible, affordable steps for LMCs and their international partners to begin to reduce the cancer burden for current and future generations. Stemming the growth of cigarette smoking tops the list to prevent cancer and all the other major chronic diseases. Other priorities include infant vaccination against the hepatitis B virus to prevent liver cancers and vaccination to prevent cervical cancer. Developing and increasing capacity for cancer screening and treatment of highly curable cancers (including most childhood malignancies) can be accomplished using "resource-level appropriateness" as a guide. And there are ways to make inexpensive oral morphine available to ease the pain of the many who will still die from cancer.