Psycho-oncological care of patients with breast cancer -: Experience of the Breast Center of the University of Leipzig

Purpose: The implementation of Disease Management Programs (DMP) and the establishment of centers for women with breast cancer has improved the psycho-oncological treatment of cancer patients. We report here on the experience with psycho-oncological support provided by the Breast Center of the University of Leipzig. Experiences and Results: 69 women with breast cancer received psycho-oncological support from October 2005 to December 2006. On average, most women had three sessions (range: 1-13), with approximately 50% of women attending more than two psycho-oncological sessions - an indicator that this support met with a good acceptance. The services which were requested most often were patient-oriented information sessions on the cancer and its treatment, information concerning the possibilities of psycho-oncological support and emotional support. 27% of the women suffered from a psychiatric comorbidity, with anxiety disorders as the most prevalent disorder. Other women on the ward with gynecological tumors also received psycho-oncological support. Conclusions: Women with breast cancer are under a lot of psychological stress and the majority of them accept psycho-oncological support. Psycho-oncological care should include outpatient aftercare. The attitude of the psycho-oncologist towards the cancer patient is very important if psycho-oncological care is to be accepted by patients and their relatives: a woman with breast cancer is primarily suffering from psychological stress, not from a mental disorder. Nevertheless, about one quarter of the women also have a psychiatric disorder which is not fully treatable during hospitalization. For this reason, ensuring that psycho-oncological aftercare is available is very important - also in preventing women from developing psychiatric disorders at a later date. Women with gynecological tumors also expressed their need for professional support.