Cancer Education and Training — Medical Social Work

Abstract

When I was asked originally to speak at this meeting, I panicked and felt I could not possibly do it. I had worked on the radiotherapy unit for only a year and doubted my ability. However, I discussed this with colleagues and realised that, although my experience in this particular hospital was of short duration, I have been working with cancer patients for many years. There are, of course, a very high percentage of patients treated for the condition, who never actually get to radiotherapy units, and more people are cared for and die at home than either in radiotherapy units or in special care units which are established in various parts of the country; so there is a store of knowledge not actually associated with those treating malignant disease alone.