Psychosocial Support of Cancer Patients: A Training Program for Oncology Staff

Abstract

To work as a nurse or a physician in oncology is a stressful experience for a variety of reasons. Despite the fact that some malignancies are now curable even in advanced stages, a large proportion of cancers still have a bad prognosis. In this situation the professionals in the field of oncology have to acknowledge the limits of modern medicine. They may feel incompetent, helpless helpers, when confronted with an irresistibly advancing disease and ultimately death. They may not be able to cope with the multiple losses they are faced with in their daily routine. Cancer evokes anxiety and fear of death in all of us, including health care professionals. This is reflected by the fact that daily rounds with terminally ill patients are much shorter than those with patients who have curable disease [1]. In addition the staff has to apply toxic treatments. They have to make their patients sick first for an expected benefit later on. Furthermore they are confronted with a variety of complicated treatment regimens and a rapidly growing amount of knowledge in their subspecialty that is not easy to assimilate. Finally, complex issues of clinical research, where benefits for the individual patient may not be evident, have to be dealt with.