RELATIONS WITH CANCER-PATIENTS

Individual guidance and humane care of cancer patients are as important as medical treatment. The cancer patient reacts differently, illness and presentiment of death are repressed. The behavior of the physician is determined by his capability to develop compassion with the cancer patient. The characteristics of the cancer can support the physician to convince the patient to help himself. The central problem is the problem of truth. Interdisciplinary treatment is necessary also for psychical care: No disturbances in continuity should occur. Common interpretations, mutual information, and communication of physicians and social workers should be carried into the patients family. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.